Do you expect 'worthwhile information' from a torture victim?

Answer 1

The CIA claims it worked very well, yet, not one prosecution at Guantanamo, after hundreds have been released. Torture is against the law of the World. The Geneva Convention, worded by the US contingent to that convention, expressly forbids torture. This rule has been ratified by our Congress, and signed into law by our President. (not the current criminal in the W.H.). There are no exceptions. If you torture, you are subject to criminal prosecution, by the World Court, in the Hague, Netherlands. Coerced confessions have been ruled illegal in every court in the US. Would you still allow torture if Iran captured one of our military, and tortured him to confess to crimes?

Answer 2

It's the kind of thing where you'd make sure the victim knew you are going to check out what they tell you then come back - and really you'd need to be looking for something quite specific.

Of course torture can be effective in getting info out of people - why do you think people have been doing it for Milennia?

The point here is are we civilized? Is it OK for a civilized society to torture people? And if so what is civilization? The answer is obvious - torture is not OK in any circumstances and every time you do it or allow it to be done it's one step closer to the dark side.

The worrying thing is that even though the West has been torturing in violation of the Geneva Convention for years, they are now bringing it into the public realm and trying to make people believe it's OK.

1 This is an indication of how arrogant they have become
2 It suggests they are going to start torturing the general population.

You can imagine the fools on here saying 'If a family member of mine was murdered and it was the only way to find out where the body was buried..... If they'd stolen something of mine and wouldn't give it back.... If they'd parked in front of a fire hydrant and wouldn't move their car..................'

Scary stuff eh?

Answer 3

When torture is used to help locate and jail political dissidents (as in Iran, e.g.), this is wrong. No grey areas.

If thousands of lives could be saved, I feel o.k. about some kind of strong physical coercion as a last resort. (In order to discover mass terror plots, dirty bombs, nukes).

In that scenario, I would not call the person a 'victim'.

Answer 4

Here is a perfect example of the worth (worthlessness) of information gathered through torture.

• Ibn al Sheikh al Libi was beaten and buried alive until he “confessed” a connection between Iraq and al-Qaeda;

• Colin Powell used that intelligence in his UN presentation;

• that helped propel America into a war with a country that had zero terrorist connections, zero terrorists, and had not even threatened to attack the US.

There was only one problem, of course—it wasn’t true.

How many deaths (including American troops), destroyed lives, and how much political damage was the product of that torture-induced lie?

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/11/cia-rendition-t.html

Answer 5

Nope. And let's stop saying that people who are against torture are un-American. If anything is un-American, it's torturing detainees. As the witch trials and other eras of religious persecution show, people will say anything their tormenter wants to hear to end the torture. How do we know that soldiers and contractors aren't just picking up random people they know full well have no knowledge of terrorism and torturing them because, well, they can?

Answer 6

Studies repeatedly shown that there are a lot of false positives with torture. People will claim guilt or make up stuff just to make the torture end. It's not a very efficient way of extracting information. It tends to be the tool of cruel or desperate authorities.

Answer 7

Quality point. Torture may extract a confession merely to stop the torture, but there is no way to judge the veracity of the information they give.

Answer 8

Someone being tortured will say whatever the "interviewer" wants to hear, that's the point. The truth in this case has been lost. (in most cases) Peace!

Answer 9

No of course not. I always thought a good meal and familiarity would work better. Of course that would be accompanied by a good truth serum. Why cause pain and mental anguish? I have never understood that mindset.

Answer 10

Like at what point is it taken serious? Before, during or do they say what will make it stop. Ignorant, wrong and embarrassing for "me" as a citizens to think this what our military/government has come to! Dare we point a finger at anyone else for inhuman practice?