Discussion # 3
Torture
Early in the War on Terror initiated by the Bush administration after the attacks of September 11, 2001, President Bush signed documents prepared by his legal advisors authorizing aggressive measures in prisoner interrogations, including practices that some consider to be torture, such as “waterboarding.” If you don’t know what waterboarding is, or have never seen it, you might be interested in a 5-minute video showing a journalist who volunteered to be waterboarded. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LPubUCJv58.
Some people believe that the United States is morally bound to avoid questionable tactics such as waterboarding. If we are to be the leader of the world economically and militarily, it is incumbent upon us to be the moral leader as well. After all, how can we criticize other nations for torturing prisoners if we engage in torture ourselves? We have to be “The Good Guys,” setting an example of correct behavior that the rest of the world can follow.
On the other hand, some people believe that in a war where the other side follows no such rules – sending impressionable (some would say brainwashed) teenagers wrapped with explosives into crowded markets to blow themselves up, along with innocent shoppers whose only crime is buying food at the wrong place at the wrong time – we cannot afford to limit ourselves to humane interrogation tactics that might fail to stop a terrorist attack. Americans generally use the phrase “enhanced interrogation techniques” to describe tactics that most people, like U.S. Sen. John McCain (who was himself subjected to torture in North Vietnamese POW camps) consider torture and unacceptable.
President Trump is convinced torture works and should be considered a valid tool of American foreign policy. His choices to lead the Defense Department and CIA both disagree and are outspokenly against torture.
A commonly cited example is the hypothetical “ticking time bomb:” if we had good information that a terrorist group had obtained a nuclear weapon and was going to explode it in Washington D.C. within 24 hours, would we be justified in torturing a prisoner we believed had information about the attack? A pretty good Wikipedia article is at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticking_time_bomb_scenario.
Some say that torture does not result in reliable information anyway, because the person being tortured will say anything just to make the torture stop. In response, others insist that the interrogators know that will happen, that some information is better than none, and that prisoners are under too much stress to make up false stories.
What is your opinion? Should the U.S. have a firm unbreakable policy that we will never torture prisoners? Or should we have a policy that allows torture?
For a little more information, you might start by checking out the links I’ve provided. (And remember not to make any assumptions about my personal opinions based on anything I post.) Or you may look for other outside information. Be sure that, as with anything you do in any class or in life, you cite anything you use from an outside source.
Remember you need to make your “Initial Post” of at least 250 words and you need to complete at least two responses (the “Final Posts”) of at least 200 words each to classmates by the dates shown in the course schedule.
Remember there is one date for your Initial Post and a later date for your Final Posts.
Torture DOESN’T Produce Useful Information.docx
The Myth of the Ticking Time Bomb.docx
5 Myths About Torture and Truth.docx
Americans Should Never Use Torture. In Any Circumstances.docx
Cheney leads defense of CIA torture of prisoners.docx
Does Torture Work – The C.I.A.’s Claims and What the Committee Found.docx
The Strategic Costs of Torture.docx
Moral injury — the quiet epidemic of soldiers haunted by what they did during wartime.docx
Reply to posts below:
first post:
I do not feel like torturing prisoners should be allowed in the United States. We have such a significant number of reasons not to torment. It spoils those people who do it. They all guarantee to help and guard the U.S. Constitution, a report that typifies what we are, the way we are constituted. That Constitution contains the fifth Amendment, which furnishes us with the privilege to stay noiseless, the privilege not to implicate ourselves when charged. It degrades the country that approves it. It expels moral specialist and authenticity from any reason, regardless of how commendable something else. It enables and enflames the adversary and helps its motivation. It uncovered our detainees of war to the same or more regrettable treatment without plan of action on the worldwide stage. Demonstrate to me the military authority who would state that he or she is alright with American administration individuals, caught in war, being subjected to the torment procedures utilized by the CIA, and I will indicate you somebody who ought not be in charge. It disheartens me to hear our pioneers withdraw from this history, this rule, this American esteem and to guard torment. It doesn’t appear to be deserving of the Home of the Brave. On the off chance that we are overcome, similar to Washington, let us believe in our capacity to pick up the insight we require, savagely if essential, yet dependably ethically. Spend the assets fundamental, employ more individuals, create and send new advancements, frame the organizations together required.
Second post:
I am a person with fear of violence. I do not like to watch movies that are violent, especially torture. I have heard a lot about the brutal forms of torture for prisoners of war criminals who are extremely serious, or those who take the testimony. But the results for those forms of torture are helpful or not, it depends on a lot of different opinions. It is worse for me than for the death penalty. Physical pain can cause frightened prisoners to give statements that are not true. There are many cases where innocent prisoners are tortured to death because they refuse to plead guilty or give testimony. They cannot prove themselves innocent. And there are cases until several years or decades to find clear evidence, then the innocent will have suffered a lot of unjustly. I do not dare mention the torture forms because to me it is terrible. There have been several incidents that have been discovered: torture may be the quickest way to force a felony and may well be the only way to end a case. There are many cases, while people are watching the results, only to find that the criminal committed suicide in prison and the court cannot continue. I think of these tortures. And of course, to me it is an unacceptable thing. I want the government to make the right choices rather than torture to deal with criminals and make sure there are no innocent prisoners. And I often wonder why in some European countries, the prison is almost “paradise” but the crime rate is very low.
