Six reasons to stop torture

Torture:
...is ineffective - Senator Whitehouse interviews FBI agent (May 2009)
...spreads - Darius Rejali, author of Torture & Democracy
...becomes a political tool
...damages credibility - Ken Roth Human Rights Watch 2007
...ruins innocent lives - Khaled El-Masri
...is immoral...

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• torture
• problems
• criticism
• mistake
• argument
• remark
• aspect
• objection
• opposition
• united
• states
• international
• interrogation
• techniques
• bush
• administration
• guantanamo
• cia
• watherboard

[gutosurrex]

"During the eight years since the military commissions were first announced, military prosecutors have obtained only four convictions, two of them by plea bargain. The federal courts, in contrast, have tried over 400 terrorism suspects during this period, among them convicted 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui and convicted "shoe bomber" Richard Reid."

Human Right Watch, September 30, 2010

[korwinblue]

I agree with all those points, except the last one. There could be completely good intentions for torture.

[gutosurrex]

korwinblue, indeed, there could be completely good intentions for torture, such as saving lives. I don't think, however, that this makes the act moral. Makes it motivated.

One could have the best intentions in killing someone else, without making this legal or moral.

[spenceII]

The thing I find interesting about the torture issue in the U.S, is the double standard of it all. They say Sadam is a terrible person for torturing people but then turn around and start torturing people themselves.

Obviously when I say Americans, Im talking about the ones who are not against the implementation of torture, not all Americans.

[im4wur2]

Thanks for the upload! - You've distilled many of the central problems associated with TORTURE.

[notthere83]

i think it's pathetic that in this day and age, there is a need for more than one reason against torture. and it makes it clear that without all their wealth and without control, most people are still basically cavemen more than willing to bash each other's heads in for whatever reason. for some, an alleged terrorist threat is enough; for some, maybe the way one dresses (as i'm writing this i'm thinking "a bit over the top?" - but no, violence against members of subcultures does exist...)

[Paladin601]

it is only illegal if you get caught

[Paladin601]

What is torture, listening to Hip Hop? Bowing up people who don't think your way? Watching the wackjob on TV, that's torture!

[MitchofSmeg]

wrong place at the wrong time, you do know how many of them didnt do shit wrong right? Alot. Wrong place at the wrong time, i bet you wouldnt like that answer if you were put through agony when you did nothing wrong.

[aman57]

I think you miss an important one: is illegal! According national law and international conventions.

[crown9798]

It is easy to feel sorry for the men that were tortured. However, having been linked to the 9/11 attacks makes me think about the victims families that will be tortured forever as long as they live. If in fact these men were not linked to 9/11, then shame on them for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.