Why we do not torture prisoners.

Why America does not (or at least should not) torture.

Abuse of prisoners leads to a bad reputation. Bad reputation leads to enemies choosing to fight rather than submit under the fear of meeting the same fate. Needlessly fighting enemies who could have been convinced to surrender then leads to needlessly dead Americans. Therefore, abuse of prisoners leads to needlessly dead Americans.

A little off-topic from atheism, but apparently no one in the media seems to understand that torturing prisoners is the moral equivalent to eating babies and trading slaves.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• torture
• war
• crimes

[William00048]

I think your reading of Sun Tzu was not quite right but I agree with everything else in your video. To be more direct. I was a British Soldier & part of the illegal invasion of Iraq. Knowing the enemy I had already determined that no matter what happened, I would not surrender. This was not false bravado but if you like fear. I would rather die a relatively quick death, than allow myself to be tortured & later murdered brutally at their hands. I would go down if necessary trying to bit them.

[AntiCitizenX]

@William00048

Thanks for sharing. I am curious how you would interpret the Sun Tzu quote. My understanding is that generals who convince the enemy to give up without a fight are the greatest of all. Is this not what Sun Tzu was driving at?

[William00048]

@AntiCitizenX Hi, I have watched through the relevant part of the video again. I find I am less at odds with you than I thought. I have just done a little more reading, you were right & I was wrong. Can you guess if I am religious or not? hehe I have to tell you as a UK soldier I did feel my life was more in danger because of lack of regard for prisoner welfare shown by the US. I wanted the enemy to feel terrified but all he need do was put his hands up to look forward to a hot meal & safety.

[AntiCitizenX]

@William00048

"I have just done a little more reading, you were right & I was wrong. "

ZOMG!!!!! You just restored my faith in humanity. :)

[hardinmichael1981]

The Bush Administration also said America DOES NOT torture b/c they simply redefined the word "torture". Essentially they said that (to paraphrase) 'Torture is Bad. America Never does Anything Bad. Therefore, America doesn't use Torture. We use "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques" '.

[rugbyanden]

To comment your slide at 6:13 this is based on a fallacy. America is not a free nation.

[William00048]

@AntiCitizenX Why is I was wrong so difficult for some people? We have a wide rage of experiences every day. We are political animals and therefore tend to express our views. It stands to reason that we might not have all the evidence or just misjudge something all the time and are therefore wrong on something on a regular basis.

Wasn't one of your slides Carl Sagan saying it was OK to be wrong a lot of the time, if you aren't then you're not doing it right?

Take care lah.

[cyxgun]

"Torture is the tool of tyrants..." now, Christians, consider the notion of Hell.

[Kariakas]

Nice video. It really sickens me to see so many politicians support torture. To me it's mind boggling how this doesn't destroy their careers. I guess that's were the pro torture, fear inspiring media comes into play. We condemned to death the Japanese in WWII for waterboarding. We grew up with a strong belief that our nations liberated instead of occupied and we treated a POWs in a humane way. This was the major difference between the west and the axis or soviets. We need to look in the mirror.

[AntiCitizenX]

@rugbyanden

You seem to be confusing the word "oppression" with the word "corruption."

[rugbyanden]

@AntiCitizenX Again, The most opressed are those who theink they are free when the case is not such. Americans only get to choose who the corporate interest will decide over. There was an overwhelming majority for a lot of things that hasnt happen. The people are not in charge.

[AntiCitizenX]

@rugbyanden

Could have fooled me.  I have openly expressed my grievances against the ruling authority and have yet to be reprimanded or censured by my democratically elected lawmakers. Sounds pretty free to me.