Morality of torture?

Question

OK, if Saddam was evil because he tortured his own people, why is it okay if the US tortures people?

Is torture a Christian thing to do? I don't recall anywhere in the Bible where it said it's okay to torture your enemies?

Can the US really take the moral high ground if we stoop down to the level of terrorists? Wouldn't it make more sense to take a look at the Big Picture, and figure out how to beat terrorism at it's roots rather than chopping at branches?

Answer 1

This president continues to erode the perception that the United States possesses any moral authority. Legislating unilateral exceptions to the Geneva convention is very dangerous and turns back the clock on human rights 150 years.

Beyond religious or common sence interpretations, we will no longer be able to cite international conventions in trying to protect our own captured soldiers.

Who could believe that we are fighting for morality and rule of law is we continue to denigrate these concepts at every turn. (The world takes note of this so ultra-Conservatives should quit asking why everyone "hates America")

If Bush is successful in his bid....remember the day....this will be a very dark hour for all humanity

Answer 2

First of all, we don't torture. Sleep Deprevation, Insults, and Dunking are not torture. When we cut off fingers and heads, mutilate genitals, and execute prisoners and their families, then you can start complaining. Saying we are on the same level as terrorists is absurd. If keeping someone awake for 70 hours saves my life, a soldiers life, a childs life, or any innocent lives, by all means don't let the guy sleep. Why is it so hard to make headway against terrorism? Because we are so restrained. Because we DO take the high road, because we ARE better than our enemies, WE sacrifice.

Answer 3

Um, what source do you have of ANYONE saying it's okay for the US to torture people? What source do you have of Christians suggesting this?

It's not okay for the US, it's not okay for Christians. We can take the moral high ground because torture is against our laws, and when morons do it, they are punished by our laws. Saddam's regiment endorsed torture--big difference.

The branches are awfully dangerous to us, so I think we need to get at the cause of terrorism AND take care of the branches that have already grown.

Answer 4

I think torture is necessary in some cases but I don't think its right for the US to use these tactics during the Iraq war because at the heart of it, I don't think that war was warrented or ethical. Someone implied that Bush didn't kill peoples children in front of them. That made me angry and sad because many children have died because of Bush and their fathers and mothers also.

Also, It's no less moral to torture someone to the brink of death than it is to kill them outright using artillery.

Also you talk Saddam as if he were are terrorist, which is not the case; that's just Bush propaganda again. (Not that I'm implying that Saddam is a good person either, of course). Don't be naive Bush isn't interested in beating terrorism for its own sake, he wants bloodshed, he wants fear and above all: he wants power.

I hate war.

Answer 5

Anyone remember the Salem witch hunts???
Where the church used torture to make the accused witches confess? And then if they did confess, they were burned at the stake... ALIVE???
It doesn't say in the bible it's okay to torture anyone, but then again, it doesn't say it can't be done, either.
And I suppose "stoning" some one to death wasn't a form of torture either, was it?

Answer 6

WHAT TORTURE.....water boarding is the harshest thing ive heard used in interagations.no one is cutting off fingers or pulling toe nails.You knob heads call sleep derpavation torture?sitting in uncomfortable psitions torture?subjected to listening to britteny spears for prolonged periods torture? our own servicemen go thru harsher treatment in some of the post basic training programs.so stuff the torture rubbish,,,and for the "what about abugrave prison" crowd I would not even call that torture that was humiliating but far from torture. CNN had one of the prisoners on talking about how evil we arer after the scandal,,but guess what he got out of the deal after everything was said and done,,he asked to move with his family to America,,,go figure

Answer 7

Torture is never justified, by anyone. It is morally reprehensible in anyone's eyes who is not psychopathic or sociopathic. It is ethically wrong also.

No need to wonder; yes, George W Bush is mentally ill and would qualify as a madman, to the same extent Hitler was.

Answer 8

Setting aside the question of morality, torture has never been an effective or reliable means of gathering intelligence.

Answer 9

You cannot compare the torture tactics used by Saddam and those used by the US! Saddam would kill your children before your eyes and cut off your limbs. The US makes you stay up for a really long time and pours water on you. If you think it's wrong fine, but it cannot be compared to Saddam's evil acts.

Answer 10

I really agree with that. I think that it's really crazy what we're doing and can't be explained at all. I'm not christian and I don't believe in the bible but I still think that there is no way to justify it. We need to find another way of solving problems then just brutality.