One of my duties when I worked for U.S. embassies and consulates in foreign countries was visiting American citizens in foreign jails. We wanted assurances that they weren’t tortured or otherwise ill treated.

The humane treatment of prisoners , especially political prisoners, has a been a bedrock of U.S. foreign policy. I was proud to speak out for our imprisoned Americans, aware of our tradition of opposing torture.

What would I say today?

Any treatment of our prisoners, including enemy combatants, may be the measure meted out to our captive citizens by other countries. Treat our prisoners as we would want our own citizens, including our soldiers, to be treated in foreign jails.