Is it Torture or is it Memorex?
George Bush got a group of reporters together yesterday and repeated his mantra -- "the United States doesn't use torture. " That he won't release details on the kinds of interrogation techniques being used by the CIA, we've seen excerpts or more of "secret" memos that basically give permission for such activities as "head slapping, sleep deprivation, and even water boarding." These actions, apparently don't constitute torture. The question is, what does constitute torture -- "the rack" ?
George Bush continues to embarrass this country with his decisions and those of his administration. I hope that the new Attorney General will rein in a rogue Justice Department that has found all kinds of loop holes that allow for inhumane treatment of prisoners. We're told that the techniques have gotten results, but we're not told what we've learned or whether we could have learned this information in more humane ways. Many Americans have gotten their view of the world framed by shows like "24", where Jack Bauer heroically saves the day by using inhumane practices. As they say, if it works then do it. It's not a very "Christian" way of doing things -- but then of course we're not a Christian nation -- except that GW thinks we are!
GW years ago espoused the principle of compassionate conservatism. I don't know about the conservative part, but these policies are anything but compassionate. GW said his favorite philosopher was Jesus -- well what would Jesus say about these policies?
Comments
A few years ago, they were claiming that waterboarding is not torture, but we prosecuted Japanese who waterboarded American prisoners of war after WWII and we prosecuted Americans who waterboarded Vietnamese POWs during Vietnam.
The definitions of torture used in international law include "any inhumane, cruel, or degrading treatment." Sleep deprivation, slaps, etc. are degrading. So are forced strips, etc.
"Harsh interrogations" use methods that would get any police officer in the U.S. in trouble. Also, Jack Bauer to the contrary, torture almost never works. People in pain tell you what they think you want to hear to get the pain to stop.
The Israelis abandoned torture because it gave them drivel. They got far more useful intelligence from simple interrogation.
In the past, Americans were shown movies in which the American hero was tortured but resisted. Only since the 24 propaganda mess have we scene the American hero torture.
We have to defend the rights even of terrorists, much more suspected terrorists. We are fighting for the rule of law and for human rights. We have returned the Inquisition.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/books/web/2007/sept24a.html
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