Torture, Continued

From a letter by a courageous veteran of the war in Afghanistan, to torture victim John McCain. Captain Fishback deserves a Medal of Freedom:

Do we sacrifice our ideals in order to preserve security? Terrorism inspires fear and suppresses ideals like freedom and individual rights. Overcoming the fear posed by terrorist threats is a tremendous test of our courage. Will we confront danger and adversity in order to preserve our ideals, or will our courage and commitment to individual rights wither at the prospect of sacrifice?

My response is simple. If we abandon our ideals in the face of adversity and aggression, then those ideals were never really in our possession. I would rather die fighting than give up even the smallest part of the idea that is "America." Once again, I strongly urge you to do justice to your men and women in uniform. Give them clear standards of conduct that reflect the ideals they risk their lives for.
With the Utmost Respect,

-Capt. Ian Fishback
1st Battalion,
504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division,
Fort Bragg,
North Carolina