If torture tells the world that we have no morals, how can we hope to defeat terrorism in its tracks?

Question

And what impact will this have on future conflicts--if by the off chance--our military servicemen are captured? Do you think that those rogue countries will abide by international law, the rules of war, or the Geneva Accords--if we don't?

I wonder the CIA and the Bush administration knows this. Or do they really care what happens as a result of this disastrous policy?

Because the more they deny that the US tortures, the more obvious the truth becomes.

Twiggy:

I am an American regardless of what you truly believe. But at least *I* have the guts to stand up and demand that this sort of behavior stops! I know--from the answers I've gotten already--there are those who believe that we should continue torturing people REGARDLESS of the circumstances; thus throwing out any reason for other countries to believe that we continue to be democratic, just, and moral.

This is isn't a question about whom I should ask. Our armed forces are fighting the wrong war for the wrong reason. This conflict on terrorism will only serve to inflame anti-American hatred of us even more as time goes on.

So tell me: How many generations will it take to rid the world of hundreds of thousands of terrorists worldwide when we are only concentrated in one spot in the Middle East?

Answer 1

For your benefit, I'm American and I agree with you.

We state that we're better than them. That we're high and mighty... yet we fall to their level.

Answer 2

The impact of the past unacceptable tortures and on going neglecting and ignorant tortures will bring more and more insurgent attacks in other countries where terrorists can penertrate into its major Americans stationed places for diplomatic or protecting purpose. As on today's news, it happened another truck full of dynamites ran into another newly built building and hurt seven Chinese workers and killed 27 (the hospital spokesman said it had killed 60) and wounded more than 200. You are damn right, the politicians used the Genevor Accord wisely and immorally to defend the Americans' wrong doing of torturing the captured terrorist suspects and gave them the hell like tortures and once or more times taped, too. Do you still remember, the Republican debate about three weeks ago (on CNN) that Meccan (I wish it spelled correct) quoted the International Laws for prisoner of war and Geneva Accords that Americans are entitled to torture the prisoners of war. He won a few clapping hands from the attendants. The best bet to ask prominent lawyers who have the in depth knowledge about the International laws of prisoner of war that provide the loopholes for the captured be elegible for a just trial and keep away from torture. If some justice organizations put pressure to Bush Administration and the CIA, they also speak for the captured terrorist suspects to United Nation and request for the pardon from torturing. Only these reasonable actions to make the harmony and peace among those red countries, USA, and Arab countries.

Answer 3

first i would like to establish where are you from..what country are you writing from, because no American writing from anywhere in the world would have/had to, write this question. assuming you are not from the country you are complaining about I would have to say have you never seen what the "other countries out there" idea of torture is? how about moving this question to another area where a person that serves in the American Armed Forces can answer they are the ones who put themselves at risk for what really goes on out there.

** I see were you added a new question exclusively for me to answer. I'm flattered but will not respond to such non-sense or "chat". check the rules.

Answer 4

The world seems to think that we are all "terrorists" regardless. By the way, exactly which rogue countries do you think abides by International law. If you remember, we got into this mess because Saddam was defying the UN and Bush was trying to hold him to it. Do you not remember the two US military men that were captured, dismembered and thrown into the sea? Why is the US the only country expected to abide by International Law?

Answer 5

Torture tells the world many things. What is your opinion of the Bataan Death March or the treatment of Allied prisoners in the hands of the Japanese during WWII. Or even for that matter the treatment of American prisoners during the Vietnam war? Considering that no one interrogated by the US authorities suffers any life time physical disabilities what is your point.

Answer 6

Aren't you begging the question?

A terrorist is a different animal than other mass murderers in the past and much more dangerous. They are not clinically insane, they don't represent any government, yet they are well organized civilian soldiers with sophisticated weaponry. They are well versed in counter-interrogation techniques.

Their overarching goal is to kill as many innocent people as possible who don't agree with their ideology.. You can not apply current systems of justice to these people. Therefore, the paradigm in secret service/intelligence services of most countries is to secretly torture them for information and often kill them once it is determined they are indeed a terrorist. The operative word is secretly. What is most unfortunate is that people who are not actually terrorists are sometimes tortured and word leaks out... This is the trade-off so that millions of innocent lives can be saved. We obviously need better interrogation methods but meanwhile, we still need to save innocent lives.

Answer 7

We will never win points with the enemy. Remember that we were attacked several times before the allegations of torture and Abu Ghraib:

1993 - Attack on WTC
1998 - 2 Attacks on U.S. embassies in Africa
2000 - Attack on USS Cole
2001 - 2nd Attack on WTC

On what morale ground was the United States standing on to provoke the attack in 1993? They will always hate us.

Answer 8

The United States is promoting the myth of redemptive violence. Look at Jesus, Ghandi, and Mary Luther King; they changed the world by rejected that myth of redemptive violence. Well, we had a hard time in Vietnam and now we're going through it again in Iraq. Looks like we should try something else. . . . .

Answer 9

What about the torture those men did on thousands of lives in 9-11? What about the torture some of them endured before they died? What about the torture on their surviving families? What about the torture that some innocent children endured burning to death?? What about the torture those fire fighters endured to try and save some lives, yet they died. If we can get info from these massive murders to put them at the mercy of whomever, then by all means do what you have to do.