Reports today that were released say that "water torture" somehow escaped the definition of torture. They go even further in stating that these methods were successful and able to get pertinent information to investigators. While I am summarizing these reports I am perplexed at the justification. When we start to justify certain situations where torture is condoned, or even advocated, do we not start a hurried sprint down a slippery slope?? What are we saying to the rest of the world?? Aren't we hippocrites in the eyes of the terrorist regime and the Al-Qaeda members that are against us?? I don't know but I do think it's a question that we need an answer too. No straddling the politicial fence on this one. Justifications of imminent danger seemingly justify this torture. However, prejudicial effect may not justify the probative force of these techniques.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Should America Condone Torture??
Coming from a military family, that's married to a man that also from a military family, I have probably a different view on things than others. That a side, we're supposed to be world examples. I'm not an expert on these things but as a member of the Geneova Convention aren't we supposed to not torture??
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This is such a tough subject to get a clear answer. There have been so many different interpretations on what torture is. Obviously, tortue can be either physical or mental. After watching a special on National Geographic about Guantanimo Bay, the prisoners who claimed to have suffered from some type of torture, said that they thought mental tortue was the worse of the two.
ReplyDeleteAlicia is right on the questions that we must ask about the practices of torture that have just been released. Many will argue that it saved American lives by the intelligence that we were given. Others say we collected false intelligence that resulted in a waste of manpower and money. Some say that the Geneova Conventions do not apply to the terrorist since they are not technically affilliated with a country and are not uniformed soliders. Some argue that they have tortured Americans (i.e. the famous beheading that was seen on the internet).
With all these questions, I don't believe that there can be a clear answer. Us as Americans are held to the highest standard in the worlds eye (allies and enemies alike). So what message does this send to the rest of the world? But, I am torn on this. I really can't answer whether I agree with the torture or not.