Hey Kossacks,
Yesterday, TrueMajority.org launched our "Condi Must Go" campaign. In response to the latest torture allegations, our message is simple:
"Given new revelations that Condoleezza Rice chaired the meetings approving specific torture techniques, she can not continue as Secretary of State. Secretary of State Rice Must Resign"
Here's what happened in only the first nineteen hours:
21,242 members signed our "Condi Must Go" petition
The Nation Covered the Campaign
The ACLU Called on Congress to Appoint a Special Counsel to Investigate
Video, Background and Action Steps Below the fold:
(Full Disclosure: I am the Online Organizing Manager at TrueMajority.org)
Last week, the ACLU obtained the infamous John Yoo Memo claiming that the 4th amendment simply didn't apply in cases involving counter terrorism. This ludicrous claim only emerged, thanks to an ACLU lawsuit and careful reading of footnotes in revealed documents.
Now, that was bad enough, but this week, ABC broke story of the Bush Administration's abuses of human rights wide open. Here's the incredible 4 minute video (If you missed it, check out Red no more's diary from yesterday:
Shocking. Scandalous. And, yes, un-American.
Here's part of a message I sent about this yesterday:
America needs a Secretary of State who can repair relations with countries around the world and stand up for human rights. Instead, we have a Secretary of State who chaired meetings on specific torture techniques. Our international reputation and moral standing are just the the latest in the ever growing costs of this Administration's foreign policy.
This report indicates that officials at these meetings included Vice President Cheney, former National Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Colin Powell, CIA Director George Tenet and Attorney General John Ashcroft. It is now clear that abusive techniques at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib were not isolated incidents by a few "bad apples". Instead, they were the logical consequence of policies dictated at the highest level of government and led by the current Secretary of State. Her directives to the CIA were unambiguous, "This is your baby, go do it".
Kossacks, this is our moment of accountability. This is where the rubber hits the road. It's time for Secretary of State Rice to go the way of Alberto Gonzales and resign. It's time for Congress to launch full-scale investigations and find out the full extent of this administration's blatant disregard for human rights.
Take the first step. Sign the petition calling on Rice to Resign.
http://www.truemajority.org/...
I'll be around to answer questions and comment throughout the day. And, please use the comments to brainstorm on ideas to move this campaign forward. In the weeks and months ahead, TrueMajority will turn up the heat on Condi Rice, and together we can finally hold this administration accoutable.