Calvey: Obama Policy 'Insult to all Americans'

Fifth District congressional candidate Kevin Calvey, an Army National Guard prosecutor, said today that the Obama Administration’s recently-announced policies regarding interrogations will result in more deaths of US military personnel and civilians.

In particular, Calvey blasted two Obama policies: first, removal of responsibility for high-value terrorist interrogations from the CIA to a newly-created White House interrogation team, which apparently will give Miranda-style rights warnings to terrorists before interrogating them; and second, the recent decision by Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate and possibly prosecute CIA interrogators merely for doing their jobs.

“For the Administration to take our Constitutionally-protected rights and give them to foreign terrorists is an insult to all Americans,” said Calvey. “It is throwing pearls before swine.”

Calvey deployed to Iraq during the troop surge in 2007-2008. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his mission prosecuting al Qaeda leaders and other terrorists in the Iraqi court system.

Calvey’s job involved working with military interrogators, FBI agents and Iraqi court personnel to bring terrorists to justice in the Iraqi system.

“I have personally looked into the eyes of over 100 terrorists,” said Calvey. “They hate us and hate our system of government. You will not impress them by giving them the same rights as other Americans. They will merely take it as a sign of weakness.

“This is war, not a US court process. Our enemies are NOT entitled to the rights protected in our Constitution. The only rights to which they are entitled are the rights we choose to give them. Currently, their only rights are the due process rights contained in the Fourth Geneva Convention, which are a legal review within a few days of detention to determine whether they are a security threat, followed by a similar review every six months. Not a trial, not Miranda rights.

“Furthermore, prosecuting CIA interrogators merely for doing their jobs will chill our nation’s ability to continue to collect intelligence on the terrorists who would destroy us. It’s questionable enough that the Administration wants to inhibit future interrogations, but it is a betrayal of loyal Americans to seek prosecution of those who were merely serving our country as CIA interrogators.”

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Fallin Rips ACLU Over Detainee Abuse Photos

Congresswoman Mary Fallin today participated in a forum investigating the consequences surrounding the potential release of photos depicting detainee abuse in the War on Terror and after it ripped the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for "pursuing an agenda that serves no purpose other than to give aid and comfort to our enemies."

The photos may eventually be released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from the ACLU. Although the Justice Department had initially signaled it would hand over the photos without contesting the request, an unnamed administration spokesman said today the White House now opposes their release.

The forum was attended by other members of Congress and included testimony from Tom Korologos, Former Ambassador to Belgium and expert in outreach to Muslim and Arab communities; Mark Pfeifle, Former Deputy National Security Advisor; and David Rehbein, National Commander of the American Legion

Following the forum, Fallin said, “The ACLU is currently pursuing an agenda that serves no other purpose than to give aid and comfort to our enemies. Releasing these pictures will help no one except the leaders of groups like Al Qaeda, who will gain a powerful new recruiting tool and a new source of anti-American hate.

“No one is condoning prisoner abuse. In fact, the Pentagon is taking appropriate steps to punish the very small number of troops who might have participated in such misconduct and to ensure no further instances occur. We can pursue justice, however, without releasing images that will surely be used as a weapon against the United States.

“It is mindboggling that the ACLU could be so indifferent to the success of the two wars we are currently fighting, our national security and our diplomatic efforts, particularly in the Middle East. The warped vision of the constitutional process championed by their liberal army of lawyers and lobbyists does not represent the best interests of this nation, nor do their views represent those of mainstream Americans. The testimony of our expert witnesses today, all of whom oppose the release of these photographs, has strengthened my belief that the ACLU is pursuing an agenda that will make Americans less safe.”

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