On the second day of his presidency, President Obama declared to the world that he would end torture by the United States of America. To prove his determination, he announced he would close the Guantanamo Bay detention center, our shameful symbol of torture.

Since that day, former Vice President Dick Cheney has waged a public campaign against closing Guantanamo and ending torture. Not surprisingly, he has employed the same fear-mongering tactics that led us into a disastrous war in Iraq. He and his supporters have used false and intimidating rhetoric to confuse both voters and Congress.

Congress must not give in to Dick Cheney's politics of fear. We call on Congress to stand with President Obama and our military leaders to reject torture and support the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

The United States must once again be a champion of justice, human rights and the rule of law.

Guantanamo is known the world over as a place where people have been abused and tortured. Many of the egregious techniques that shocked the international community -­ stripping and hooding detainees, blaring music non-stop at ear-shattering levels, "stress positions," and waterboarding -­ have been used there.

More than a dozen retired military leaders joined President Obama when he announced his decision to close Guantanamo because they strongly believe it is in America's national security interest. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell and former commander of U.S. forces in Iraq General David Petraeus agree. Gen. Powell said, "If it was up to me, I would close Guantanamo. Not tomorrow, but this afternoon. I'd close it." His view is shared by Gen. Petraeus in equally strong terms: "We don't need it, and it's causing us far more damage than any good we get for it."

Congress must not give in to Dick Cheney's politics of fear. We call on Congress to stand with President Obama and our military leaders to reject torture and support the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.