This Is What Integrity Looks Like!Thank You, ABA!

Lawyer group criticizes U.S. handling of war detainees
ABA sees pattern of abuse in Iraq, Guantanamo

Associated Press
Originally published August 10, 2004

ATLANTA - The nation's largest lawyers group condemned the government's handling of foreign detainees yesterday over the objections of members who called it a cheap shot at the White House.

The American Bar Association criticized what it called "a widespread pattern of abusive detention methods" that "feed terrorism by painting the United States as an arrogant nation above the law."

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David Rivkin Jr., a Washington attorney who served in the Reagan and first Bush administrations, told ABA leaders the resolution was poorly worded and "could be dismissed as grandstanding."

The Bush administration has aggressively defended its imprisonment of men - without traditional rights - whom it classifies as enemy combatants. Government officials have said abuses at overseas prisons have been isolated and those responsible are being punished.

An administration lawyer was sent to Atlanta but did not speak on the resolution, which had overwhelming support.

During the debate, Washington attorney Mark Agrast said, "If we want the world to embrace American ideals, we first must live up to those ideals ourselves." LINK

Well worth repeating:

"If we want the world to embrace American ideals, we first must live up to those ideals ourselves."