I would rather die fighting than give up even the smallest part of the idea that is "America." - Captain Ian Fishback

I work with Boy Scouts and above all else we teach these young men about duty to one’s self, one’s family and one’s country. My father served in the Marine Corp and before he died I asked him why he signed up, his answer was simple, “I loved my country and wanted to serve.” There are few things in life worth fighting for or worth dying for, but there are some.

Sequestered at Fort Bragg under orders restricting his contacts sits one lone man, Captain Ian Fishback. Captain Fishback is by all accounts a devout Christian who can quote the US Constitution from memory. Consider this from Andrew Sullivan’s blog:

Another source informs that the word is around that Rumsfeld has taken a strong interest in this. He is quoted as saying "Either break him or destroy him, and do it quickly."

What offense did Captain Fishback commit? Simple, after 17 months of trying to get the US Military to address the widespread use of torture and prisoner abuse that he had personally witnessed, after failing to attract the interest of congressman and senators, Captain Fishback submitted his findings to Human Rights Watch.

Please read the letter that Fishback sent to Sen. John McCain as posted on the Washington Post website.

Please write to your Representative in the House, Senators and the President demanding that Captain Fishback be freed and his story be heard. And if you are wondering who this man is and what he stands for consider these quotes from his letter:

"Some do not see the need for this work. Some argue that since our actions are not as horrifying as Al Qaeda's, we should not be concerned. When did Al Qaeda become any type of standard by which we measure the morality of the United States? We are America, and our actions should be held to a higher standard, the ideals expressed in documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution."

"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."

Does anyone remember Mr. Smith goes to Washington? This time its for real.