On the second day of his presidency, President Obama declared to the world that the use of torture would no longer have a place in the United States of America. He announced that he would close the Guantanamo Bay detention center, the shameful symbol that has undermined our nation's security, destroyed its moral authority, and is opposed by so many of our military leaders.

Since President Obama's historic announcement, former Vice-President Dick Cheney has launched a public campaign to discredit the president's security strategy for political gain and sought to pressure politicians into turning back the clock. Not surprisingly, he has employed the same fear-mongering tactics that he and others used to mislead the American people into the disastrous war in Iraq. He and his supporters have used misleading and intimidating rhetoric to jjhjhsow uncertainty across the country. Congress must not give in to the politics of fear and must

The arguments for closing Guantanamo – and the options for trying, detaining or transferring detainees – are strong and sound. Guantanamo is known the world over as a place where people have been abused and tortured. Many of the egregious techniques that have shocked the international community – stripping and hooding detainees, blaring music non-stop for several hours at ear-shattering levels and waterboarding – have been used there. Torture will forever be the legacy of Guantanamo.

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, General Colin Powell and former commander of U.S. forces in Iraq General David Petraeus agree. Gen. Powell has 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."

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 known as a champion of justice, human rights and the rule of law.