5. Forbid Torture and Prosecute Those Who Allowed It

WHEREAS the torture and abuse of prisoners is an affront to basic American values, and is antithetical to the core beliefs in the integrity of the individual on which the United States was founded;

WHEREAS torture violates one of the most basic prohibitions of international and U.S. law - a prohibition so fundamental that its breach is considered a crime of universal jurisdiction, prosecutable in any competent court worldwide;

WHEREAS credible news reports indicate that torture is being used against detainees by U.S. personnel, civil and military, in numerous American facilities abroad;

WHEREAS a handful of lower level soldiers have been brought to trial for abusive treatment of prisoners;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Maui hereby:

REQUESTS that the Hawai`i State Democratic Party, the National Democratic Party, our Hawaiian and U.S. legislators to go on record as demanding the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney and their prosecution along with Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Steven Cambone and Geoffry Miller for condoning torture in violation of the Geneva Conventions and federal criminal law.

CONDEMNS any incident of abuse of prisoners or the use of torture by any agent or agency of the United States; and

REAFFIRMS the importance of making human rights and the rule of law guiding forces for United States conduct.