Chambliss, Inhofe, Sessions, Cornyn, Thune, Martinez Statement on SASC Inquiry into Detainee Treatment

Throughout our history, even in the gravest of circumstances, the United States has embodied the ideals of individual freedom and liberty.  This nation adheres to the principle that all detainees in U.S. custody must be treated humanely and in accordance with applicable law.  The fallacious assertion, made in recent newspaper editorials and other media outlets, that illegal treatment of detainees was an intentional or necessary result of administration policy is irresponsible and only serves to aid the propaganda and recruitment efforts of extremists dedicated to the murder of innocents and the destruction of our way of life.   

The latest inquiry into detainee treatment by the Senate Armed Services Committee breaks little new ground – merely reiterating the findings of at least 12 previous independent investigations, which reported that certain isolated and limited incidents of detainee abuse occurred in the handling of detainees in U.S. custody.  The implication, however, that this abuse was the direct, necessary, or foreseeable result of policy decisions made by senior administration officials is false and without merit.  It is counter-productive and potentially dangerous to our men and women in uniform to insinuate that illegal treatment of detainees resulted from official U.S. government policies.   

Administration officials sought to comply with requests from the field for effective interrogation techniques within the legal constraints in place at the time.  These policies and orders were developed and issued under unprecedented circumstances in which our nation was under the continuous threat of an enemy that does not comply with the established rules of war – wearing no uniform and operating behind the cover of civilians. 

While it is well-documented that the guidelines and orders developed by administration and military officials were not followed in a handful of isolated and well-publicized incidents, and that certain techniques were used in areas and by individuals for which they were not authorized, all credible allegations of abuse by U.S. military personnel were and continue to be taken seriously and investigated in painstaking detail.  Where applicable, offenders have been charged, tried, and punished under federal law.  This commitment to the rule of law permits the United States to operate safe, humane and professional detention facilities for unlawful enemy combatants - many of whom continue to provide valuable information in preventing further terrorist attacks. 

The events of September 11, 2001, represent the most horrific violence inflicted on our homeland since the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  After those terrible attacks, our government faced novel and grave issues of policy while having to address the dangers confronting our country.   In good faith, the administration and our military did their utmost to resolve those issues in an effective and lawful way.  It is important to remember and reaffirm the honorable public service of those individuals charged with defending the country – both past and present, civilian and military, at the highest levels of government and in the field – who expose themselves every day to criticism and to many kinds of risk in discharging their solemn responsibilities.  We regret that relevant facts and the contexts in which policy decisions were made were ignored in the Committee’s report. 

While it is often difficult to strike the proper balance between preserving America’s security and upholding our nation’s principles, the facts reveal that the United States is committed to providing security to its people while preserving American ideals.