For imediate release [View All]

November 28, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WWW.FOLLOWMETODC.COM

In a letter posted on line and delivered to Democratic Congressional leadership, Harris calls on our leaders to call for a new Geneva Convention.

"As a soldier that has deployed to foreign soils and fought for this Nation, the Geneva Conventions are important to me in many ways. They are the hope that prisoners of war have if captured by the enemy. They are the compass that guides warriors in the ethical and moral waging of violence against other Nations. They are, in short, the protectors of humanity while engaged in combat."

The Geneva Conventions previously produced guidelines governing the treatment of prisoners of war and have long been held as what separates us from true evil. The current administration continues to lobby for a disregard of those declarations in the name of freedom. This is unacceptable, says Harris.

"What I cannot understand is how this administration does not see how much damage they are doing to the military institution itself by using or condoning the use of torture, degrading treatment of prisoners, and banned weapons."

He adds:

"Warfare has changed immeasurably since 1949 when the last Convention was held and the participants adopted the treaties, which we have now almost invalidated with our actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even since the writing of the Protocol I and Protocol II in 1977, warfare has evolved on an exponential level and has seen the introduction of weapons and capabilities never thought possible back then. We forget how long ago that was; most of us barely had a microwave back then and MTV didn'teven get here until 1981.

We need another Geneva Convention."

The Harris Campaign urges constituents to contact Rep. Barton and ask him to propose a return to Geneva immediately as a good faith step towards changing the course in Iraq. Our leaders have to step up and take responsibility for protecting soldiers, those currently deployed and those that will protect America's future.

David will be taking the place of Eric Massa on this Tuesday night's Air America spot for Fighting Dems at approximately 9:34 Eastern.