Today President Bush declared in Panama that the U.S. does not torture. For some reason, I find that hard to believe considering VP Cheney is up in D.C. trying to stop the Senate from passing a law outlawing torture. So, if we don’t torture why is it so important to stop this law? I believe Sen. McCain from Arizona, whose was a POW, is right when he says the U.S. should never torture, because it sets a bad example for the rest of the world, especially when the U.S. keeps trying to preach to other countries about morals. No one Is going to follow behind an inconsistent leader, who says one thing and does another.

Torturing of anyone is bad and not good policy, because it just angers the Arab world even more and increases terrorism against our troops in Iraq and elsewhere. There is nothing wrong with tough interrogation tactic, but when it begins to get violent and abusive, there are problems. An important golden rule is to treat people the way you want to be treated!

That’s my blurb on torture for today, so what do you think? Should We Torture or Should We Not?

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quote:

Originally posted by clpo13:
We say we're better than the terrorists and then we turn around and torture people? What kind of hypocrites are we? Any government that condones torture is not my government. I applaud Senator McCain for pushing this bill.

Ditto.

Ah. But what about the torture in US based prisons? We tortured then, no? It makes us look worse than it makes "them" look, just because we are the United States of America and most outsiders (up until recently) do not view us in such a light.

What do you mean by "uneducated people?" Sure, not all of "them" are educated, but honestly, don't clump "them" together. Better enemies? I laugh. Not at you, just at your word choice.

quote:

Originally posted by clpo13:
We say we're better than the terrorists and then we turn around and torture people? What kind of hypocrites are we? Any government that condones torture is not my government. I applaud Senator McCain for pushing this bill.

You're right. We musen't act like the enemies. Because to them we are enemies too. But we are the better enemies. So in all and all, its too bad that they are uneducated people, because if they were, they would know about all of the helpful ways we help their own kinds. Its the OTHERS who look like them who are bad and who we dont kill.

What i really ment to say is, they torture us, but its too bad because it just makes them look badd.

We say we're better than the terrorists and then we turn around and torture people? What kind of hypocrites are we? Any government that condones torture is not my government. I applaud Senator McCain for pushing this bill.

It depends on the circumstances. We all do bad things in some ways... Torture is not something to take lightly.

if its an alKida guy thing who we know is bad then torture him until he gives up allllll the information.

quote:

Contrary to what a lot of people seem to believe, most of those who support torture don't just wanna see Arabs writhing in pain--they want to save lifes

I understand that, but even when it is known that the person has information, it is not reliable because of the means in which it was gotten. The CIA opposed torture and I heard a report on how they don't want Bush to mkae tortue OK for the CIA.

From what I've heard, I've decided that I won't support torture in any case at all. EVen if there was a huge bomb about to go off somewhere and you had the person who planted it, there is a very small chance that torture would produce the answer.

I do support interrogation, however. Go ahead and ask them questions for extended periods of time. It won't hurt them physically and is just about as likely to make them crack and give answers.

Only if it doesn't have lasting physical effects on the one being tortured.

I'm generally against all kinds of torture, but I have seen more than one episode of "24," and I can see how it would be useful in certain circumstances. This applies, as Fina said, only we are absolutely 100% positive that they have information that could be useful to stop an attack. However, for example, chopping off someone's arm is never acceptable. It sounds like an oxymoron, but if we torture, we need to find humane, dignified ways to do it.

I'm not exactly sure where I stand on this one.

The situations in which most of us would consider torture acceptable are always the ones where the U.S. government has to act fast to prevent an imminent tragedy from occuring. Of course, these are the very same situations where we don't have time to fact-check potentially faulty information given to us by torture victims.

However, I think most of us would agree that putting one man through excruciating pain in order to save thousands of lives would be an acceptable thing to do...if it worked.

So I guess I support torture only in the rarest of circumstances. If a situation ever arises in which we know a bomb has been planted in a major city, for instance, and we've also captured a top-ranking terrorist who we know knows the details of the plan, and we have just enough time to do research on his claims but not enough times to foil the plot on our own, then I could see supporting torture.

But the situation I've just described pretty much never occurs in real life. There's always uncertainty about what the torture victims really know, and how much time we have, and whether or not they'll lie, and how easy it is to tell whether or not they're lying. So I definitely wouldn't support making torture a routine part of our system.

Interrogation, of course, is another matter entirely. And Bushie has done an excellent job of blurring the lines between the two.

On a final note, I'm a little sick of those who oppose torture claiming moral superiority. Contrary to what a lot of people seem to believe, most of those who support torture don't just wanna see Arabs writhing in pain--they want to save lifes.

These are all good points for and against torture. Some say it will help stop terrorist acts before they happen, while others say terrorist will say what they want to just mis-led America and other countries. I think that interrogation is different from torture, but those two should never cross one another.

peace,

Josh M.
VOTE on GEN-Y!
Gen Y-Youth In Action!

Well, obviously its still being practiced, I'm just saying that the answer to the question: "Should the US torture?" is kind of self-explanatory.

Of course, psychological torture can yield information, but still, it shouldn't be employed as an interrogation tool. Unless say, the world was about to explode. Which, of course, won't happen unless we set off all our nuclear weapons at once producing enough energy to destroy the world sixteen times or something like that. . .

quote:

Originally posted by yogore:
It is proven that torture provides fake answers. When someone is being tortured, they say what the torturer wants to hear, not what is the truth.

I said when it's done correctly. Most Army soldiers and the like are not psychologically equipped to truly torture answers out of a person. Because real, successful torture takes *hours* to be done successfully. They don't have that kind of time.

Which is why intense interrogation by professionals is much more successful than physical torture. Terrorists do not value their own lives, or their family's (for the most part, especially failed suicide bombers) so physical torture is pretty pointless. On others, it's a useful skill when done correctly by professionals.

Most Republicans disagree with the White House's stance on the bill.

quote:

Torture and interrogation are useful practices, when done correctly.

It is proven that torture provides fake answers. When someone is being tortured, they say what the torturer wants to hear, not what is the truth.

Wouldn't we think the idea of torturing is self-explanatory..but its not Greenleaf because it still happens today and has been since the beginning of time or we wouldn't be discussing it. nor would our gov't.

peace,

Josh M.
http://www.genynow.com

I think we should torture people when we're positive they've been convicted of a crime and have valuable information. Torture and interrogation are useful practices, when done correctly.

oh yes. The US should definately torture every last muslim on the planet until the seas run red.

Isn't that kind of self-expalnatory? I mean, torture. . . We'd be going back to the 1600, essentially. Well, more than we are already.

Hey Uncle Sam:
I totally agree with you. Torturing is inhumane and not good policy for any country!

peace,

Josh M.
GEN Y-Youth in Action