No Penalties for Harsh CIA Interrogation/Torture
American President Barack Obama has absolved CIA officers from prosecution for waterboarding, depriving detainees of heat and clothes, and slamming them against the wall. At the same time, Obama released details of the treatment against legally-innocent suspects. The ACLU had fought for the release of the information on the methods which the president said are no longer being used.
The announcement has drawn criticism from both supporters and detractors of "harsh interrogations" (what many observers in and out of the United States call "torture.") Some say the release compromises American security. If other nations know the CIA can't keep information secret, they may not trust American intelligence.
Others say the reports should have been released long ago. Releasing information on discontinued methods are not a threat to American security, and those who promoted and did the horrible acts should be punished.
One technique that was approved but not implemented involved putting a detainee who was afraid of insects into a box filled with caterpillars. Those who've read George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four will recognize this kind of method. It was a key technique Big Brother used in brainwashing and even ripping away a couple's love.
The issue brings up several key questions:
What is torture and what isn't? Is it all right to torture people, even though they haven't been convicted of anything? Does torture even work--won't people tell you anything, even something made up, just to get the torture to stop? If your nation tortures citizens of other countries, doesn't that mean other countries are more likely to torture your citizens?
I think of a kid twisting another kid's arm until his victim says, "uncle." The words could be anything, as long as it stops. If allowed, police could use this on anyone they arrest--hurt them until they confess. Conviction on the spot. It would save a lot of money, for we would no longer need juries and lawyers. Just hope you aren't the next one they arrest.
But that leaves the question of should interrogators/torturers be punished. Weren't they following orders, following legal advice that said what they were doing was approved and legal, following the wishes of the leader of their nation?
Attorney General Eric Holder White said, "It would be unfair to prosecute dedicated men and women working to protect America for conduct that was sanctioned in advance by the Justice Department."
I agree. I believe the methods used were wrong, ineffective, and contrary to fundamental American values. The U. S. Constitution protects even the convicted from "cruel and unusual punishment." And these people weren't convicted. What is wrong with a nation that tries to protect its rights by stripping away the rights of others?
But I believe people who are acting under orders from their government, who are told by the legal representatives of their government that a method is approved and legal, shouldn't be punished for obeying orders.
What I believe should be changed are the laws, practices and leaders who approve those methods. Fortunately, these things are happening now.
See http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090417/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/torture_memos
For all our blog entries that mention waterboarding, go to http://www.loveshade.org/blog-mt/mt-search.fcgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=waterboard
For all our blog entries that mention torture, go to http://www.loveshade.org/blog-mt/mt-search.fcgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=torture
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Comments
Torture is wrong no matter who does it. Doing wrong to fight wrong isn't right! But need to move on to a better era than what we've had. America needs to be known as a free, caring nation and not the Empire people think it is now.
Posted by: TawTew the Naturally Perfumed | April 18, 2009 08:04 AM
Waterboarding is not torture. Torture kills. Waterboarding doesn't. I don't like it, but if it's necessary to protect America, then it's necessary.
Posted by: Harlie Carl | April 18, 2009 06:22 PM
Carl torture does not kill. If you torture and kill you learn nothing. This is torture and its wrong and America shouldn't have any part of it.
Posted by: Righteous Rachel | April 19, 2009 04:22 AM
How about those who waterboarded and slammed ppl against the wall get waterboarded and slammed against the wall? See how they feel then. If its not torture they shouldn't mind going through it. Any volunteers?
Posted by: Comes Around Wandy | April 19, 2009 01:18 PM
If someone ever totures our guys while turnabout is fair game
Posted by: Vernon Avaritt | April 20, 2009 01:16 PM
Veron is right. If America tortures their people, what's to keep them from torturing Americans?
And torture doesn't work anyway. Like you said, "cry uncle."
Harlie, you sound suspicious to me. How about they come to your house and arrest and torture you? I think we have to for America's protection. See the problem there? Who do we torture? You really want the cops to make that decision? Go find a time machine and go back to Nazi Germany. I think you'll find your kind of people.
Posted by: Bertha | April 20, 2009 08:24 PM
Should have added I disagree with parts of your blog. Those who tortured should be punished. Getting a go ahead from George W. Bush and his Cabinet of Evil means nothing.
Posted by: Bertha | April 20, 2009 08:36 PM
This makes me sad. Very sad. We got away with torturing people. Some of them innocent like the Canadian a couple years ago.
Posted by: Vernon Avaritt | April 20, 2009 08:48 PM
Click on Mike's Friend "below" to see a great comment on this.
Also see an update at http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/04/waterboarding_more_often_than.html
(We changed "above" to "below" to better fit our layout).
Posted by: Mike's Friend | April 20, 2009 09:14 PM
Some of you s*******s obviously never been in the military. Try disobeying a command when your orders are with the security of America. Don't expect me to go to your funeral.
Posted by: Odd Man Out | April 24, 2009 09:33 PM
How about we stop fighting and go smoke some bud?
Posted by: Jack Hemp | May 3, 2009 01:28 PM
OMO you just don't understand. If you disobey an order, that means you want to be killed. It's like wearing a sign that says, "Shoot Me." Say, maybe you do understand.
Posted by: Rev. Bootie | May 5, 2009 11:57 AM
America and allies present proposal for Iranian sanctions, Under the latest proposed sanctions , Iran are to be prevented from making any investment in another country related to uranium mining, enrichment, or other production.
Posted by: Archie Supports Free Speech | May 19, 2010 05:38 AM