October 24, 2005
Letters to the Editor
The New York Times
229 West 43rd Street
New York, New York 10036
Dear Mr. Feyer,
The following Letter to the Editor is submitted
exclusively to The New York Times. This letter
is the opinion of New York City Bar Association
president Bettina B. Plevan, in reaction to the
Sunday, October 23rd, story titled, “C.I.A.
to Avoid Charges in Most Prisoner Deaths.” The
news story was written by reporters Douglas Jehl
and Tim Golden. We hope you will share Ms. Plevan’s
letter with your readers.
To the Editor:
The report that no charges will be brought against
C.I.A. personnel involved in the abuse and death
of detainees under their control (Oct. 23; “C.I.A.
to Avoid Charges in Most Prisoner Deaths”)
further underscores the importance of establishing
an independent commission to examine the formulation
and implementation of U.S. policy toward detainees.
This Executive Branch has repeatedly demonstrated
that it cannot conduct such an inquiry. Several
investigations have been launched, but their central
failing is that they have not investigated the
top officials responsible. There is ample evidence
the administration has sought to permit the torture
and abuse of detainees captured in Iraq, Afghanistan
and anywhere in the world in connection with the “war
on terror,” from legal memoranda orchestrated
in the White House to instructions passed from
high levels of the Defense Department. But the
same people who initiated this program are the
ones who oversee the investigation of its results.
Congress should establish a commission similar
in concept to the 9/11 Commission to expose not
only those who torture, but those who set in motion,
and continue to pursue, a torture policy that has
so undercut our world standing.
Bettina B. Plevan, President
New York City Bar
