Should we torture the enemies of the United States?

Question

My husband and I are Military Police in the US Army. We both believe strongly that the government should "Do whatever it takes" to ensure the safety of the United States and its allies. What do you think?

Keep in mind the Geneva Convention doesn't exist outside of the United States, contrary to popular belief.

I only wish people could see the world through the eyes of a soldier fighting for his/her life everyday.

Keep in mind being tortured isn't always physical it can be mental.

Answer 1

all those that answered no, think of this: while we are being the "bigger men" our soldiers who are pow and mia (and still alive) are being tortured relentlessly by the enemy who aposses us and cares nothing of civil liberty or the state of our soldiers. i am in the marines and if i were to be captured and... id like to think my buddies Byrd and Lehman were doing the same thing to those bastards friends that they were doing to me. leading by example may work if we go to war with a first-world country but they arent that high class, dont like us, are all hethens, and dont give a damn about our example and wont follow it.

Answer 2

You are completely wrong about the Geneva Conventions (see link below for list of signatory countries), but we'll leave that aside.

Torture is forbidden by the US Constitution (8th Amendment), and by US federal laws (18 USC 2340A, second link), as well as numerous treaties to which the US is a signatory party (which by law limit US action). Therefore, it is illegal at least three different ways.

Many people argue that the government should be allowed to break the laws any time they want, and simply have the ends justify the means. That's exactly what the terrorists argue as well.

Reading some of the commentaries, it's truly sad that people think the US should lead by example by approving the use of torture. Not only does it violate everything this country was founded on, but it makes us no better than those we oppose.

Answer 3

It is very frightening to me how easily American's are ready to throw our constitution out the window these days. All in the guise of "safety".

We are not safe, we have never been safe. There have always been crazies that are jeolous of our way of life and they have always been ready to attack. Crack open a few history books, and see for yourself.

America is supposed to be above this. Land of the free, home of the brave. We are no longer free. Just because we are allowing our government complete amnesty to do whatever they think is right, does not make it right.

Eventually, these new laws and ignoring the constitution will begin to be used en masse against regular everyday Americans. Then will you see the error of these ways?

And I feel for you and your husband. Because when a specific act comes to light, and you, or your husband are documented "torturing" someone, you will be thrown under the bus. Just like the other soldiers who are currently sitting in jail or being tried for war crimes. Your commanding officers will sacrifice you and your future. It has happened before, it WILL happen again.

Torture, sure why not. Even though there are thousands of studies that prove people will say anything, lie, make things up, to get the pain to stop. Great info there.

Answer 4

FM 3-19.40
PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING!

Texas Republican Congressman Ron Paul ominously warned that the Military Commissions act officially allows for citizen concentration camp facilities.

"We might have to hope that our Supreme Court helps us out a little. The Court has been better than the executive branch and a heck of a lot better than the Congress, the President has been begging for all this authority and we've given the President everything he's asked for. Sometimes the people wake up too late. Right now we don't have concentration camps but the authority has been given so that concentration camps can come without the right of Habeas Corpus . If they can put you in a camp, what good is freedom of speech or what good is a gun? This is now part of the books, part of the law."

Section 802 PATRIOT ACT is specifically aimed at US citizens and announces any federal crime as "domestic terrorism". Citizens can be held without a trial as "Enemy Combatants".

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in January 2003 that U.S. citizens can be stripped of their citizenship and held as enemy combatants.

FM 3-19.40 plans were created weeks before 9/11/01 and were signed INTO ORDER weeks after 9/11/01
By Order of the Secretary of the Army:
ERIC K. SHINSEKI General, United States Army
Chief of Staff Joel B Hudson Administrative Assistant Secretary of the Army

HERE IS THE ACTUAL (FM 3-19.40)

I find chapter 5 and 6 particularly disturbing.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-19-40/

It is also available on the UNITED STATES ARMY website in PDF format@
http://www.army.mil/usapa/doctrine/Active_FM.html

On the army website it is not easy to find(for obvious reasons) its 1/6th the way down the page entitled MILITARY POLICE INTERNMENT/RESETTLEMENT OPERATIONS DATED 08/01/2001

Answer 5

Who made U. S. God, Judge and Jury? How can torturing innocent people make the world safe. I understand that you belong to the army. I would suggest to you both to open your eyes and mind to place your self in the innocent who is probably being torture as I write this message. Begging the abuser to believe them but not getting a chance to be defended. Put your self in that persons shoe, you are innocent and as a right you should have someone defending you (a lawyer), but because the Geneva rules are not being respected, and so you are doomed to be tortured. What if it was your child living this experience of torture what then? Bush uses the word God a lot to cover for his crimes, but would God really want this, We should stop using God for the evil that human beings are capable of doing. It is your choice not Gods.

Answer 6

I have no objection to doing whatever it takes to protects ones self. After all, what would happen to an allied soldier if they were captured? Have a look at the Vietnam War, Korea and what the Nazis did to innocent people as well as soldiers they captured.

Hit hard and hit first.

Answer 7

Torture is morally wrong, as well as illegal under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Geneva Convention.

Also, it gives a green light to America's enemies to torture American soldiers in their custody.

And, in the future, if America should happen to lose a war, it could mean that all the torturers (including you and your husband) could be subject to a War Crimes Tribunal by enemy governments..

Does it sound like such a good idea now, soldier?

Answer 8

the geneva convention is for Signed participants and is for the Soldiers In Uniform. If you are not a signed participant or not a recognized government or out of uniform(spy) or a Terrroist you HAVE no Rights under the geneva convention. Water board them and remove their manhood! then let's see what the Virgins are worth!!!

Answer 9

POW's should never be tortured if captured in uniform. those captured while executing civilians should be treated by very harsh rule's. If you are in the military and you have a chain of command over you then you must follow your orders as long as you do not violate UCMJ. IF you are MP's then you know the answer to your question. I believe combatants captured out of uniform CAN be executed as spy's and they may choose to "share" during execution.

Answer 10

as far as I'm concerned they are not entitled to the Geneva convention because they do not fight for a country and they don't have uniforms i think if we find out who they are or what they are up to find out what they know and if found guilty by a military court they should be hung or shot