On Monday, June 25th, 2007 President Bush met with this year's nationally selected group of Presidential Scholars in the East Room of the White House. The ceremony to honor the 141 high school scholars from every state in the union unexpectedly became sensational when one student, Leah Anthony Libresco, presented the President with a hand written letter signed by 48 of the young scholars protesting the Bush administration policies of torture and circumvention of the Geneva Convention. Their letter read in part:

"We have been told that we represent the best and brightest of our nation. Therefore, we believe we have a responsibility to voice our convictions. We do not want America to represent torture. We urge you to do all in your power to stop violations of the human rights of detainees, to cease illegal renditions, and to apply the Geneva Convention to all detainees, including those designated enemy combatants."

The President read the note and then responded with characteristic candor. "America" he assured the young people, "doesn't torture."