2007-12-12 15:25:13 · 7 answers · asked by shoreke 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
They tried and convicted many Japanese for waterboarding after WWII and sent them to prison for 15 years and up. How unoriginal are we, we can't even form our own brand of torture?
2007-12-12 15:34:55 · answer #1 · answered by lcmcpa 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Attorney General of United States is the person who says what is and is not torture.
Alberto Gonzalez did not believe it was torture.
The new guy, Michael Mukasey, has not answered the question.
According to Republican United States Senator John McCain, who was tortured as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, waterboarding is "torture", "no different than holding a pistol to his head and firing a blank" and can damage the subject's psyche "in ways that may never heal."
In 2006, Vice-President Cheney defended water-boarding.
Asked on a radio programme whether "a dunk in water is a no-brainer if it can save lives?" he replied: "Well, it's a no-brainer for me, but for a while there I was criticised as being the vice-president for torture. We don't torture."
The problem is American POW are not what Atty Gens are talking about. They are designing their definition for "Enemy Combatants" on the War on Terror. Bush Administration believes this is "different". This war has no rules that we have followed so far.
International Law defines it as torture and it is outlawed.
We have not been following international law. That is why there is so much controversy daily.
I'm sure that does not answer your question though !
Stay Tuned, by 2009 there should be a decision.
2007-12-12 15:54:47 · answer #2 · answered by bsol08 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the Bush Administration, water-boarding is not considered a form of torture, contrary to what the rest of the world thinks.
Many experts agree that the psychological effects last long after the actual experience. In an article on MSN a suspect who was water-boarded is afraid of taking showers and has panic attacks when it rains.
However, the US government seems to think it's highly effective, although people if tortured long enough or hard enough will say just about anything to stop the torture.
2007-12-12 15:38:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. The Geneva Convention has strict rules about the torture of POWs.
If we waterboarded POWs we would be in violation, but we only waterboard detainees. (Hey, I don't make the rules...)
2007-12-16 09:55:15 · answer #4 · answered by raysny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course. The very fact we refer to this method of torture as 'waterboarding' says a lot about our cavalier attitude toward others being tortured.
2007-12-12 15:33:35 · answer #5 · answered by beez 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes , for it is in violation of the Geneva Convention .
2007-12-12 15:34:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
no the US government has no respect for anyone - nor do they care.
2007-12-12 15:32:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋