Re-thinking torture

A few articles to give another perspective on a total ban on torture, some food for thought (I hope these links work, I don't know how to insert a link, as we used to be able to do, without doing the entire URL):

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_24_57/ai_n15980278/print

http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=YTZjYjFkODUyNDdlYzQzMTc4N2MxNDE0MWIzNDlkZDQ=

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDgxNTEzNjEwYzE3MWIyMDA5Mjc1NThmNzY1N2IyM2M=

http://www.highbeam.com/library/docFree.asp?DOCID=1G1:141169104

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/400rhqav.asp

 

Thanks very much, poncho! I just did another thread with the same style of posting links, but will definitely try your suggestion next time. And, again, thanks for the info.

Hope all is well with you.

 

Hi Daisy. Oh, I don't need to do any re-thinking. It was for the rest of y'all.

Really, I sent them because I had just read the Krauthammer article and thought I would find some other like-minded articles for those who believe that all forms of psychological/physical pressure should be banned or are illegal under the Geneva Convention(s) (mostly to address the former position). Banning all sounds great in an ideal world. The point of most of the articles is that we don't live in an ideal world and we should use more common sense in putting together guidelines/policy.

 

genesis

Did you read any of the linked articles? The recommendations included in some of them were designed to avoid just the sort of shenanigans that those folks engaged in.

Do you consider what was done at Abu Ghraib "monstrous behavior" as practiced by "dictatorial regimes"?

Thanks, carpro, for the reality check, too. It certainly doesn't mean that we treat others as Americans were treated but it would do many well to consider the humanity of prisoner treatment by Americans as opposed to how Americans have been treated. I would add, in reply to genesis, that the animals we are fighting against have sawed people's heads off. Our treatment of their prisoners is not going to be an "enlightened example" that they will follow. They are animals, pure and simple. The treatment recommended in the linked articles has nothing to do with how Americans have been treated, or a means of revenge, but simply common sense thinking of how we should treat such outlaw prisoners who have critical information.

 

Oops, double post.

 

LE,

I would venture to guess that other "Allied" powers have as well: Great Britain, Australia, France (man, I'm really struggling not to throw a joke in there), etc. Your point remains, though, that countries governed by totalitarians treat their prisoners barbarically because they do not hold to Western/Christian values regarding human life. As carpro said, Americans are not treated nearly as well as we treat prisoners from other countries, including the barbarians.

 

poncho,

Those who use hand saws to saw other people's heads off are animals. Call it "Archie Bunker" if you like. Just callin' 'em like I see 'em. Not hate, just reality.

 

SN, I know you're teasing but I just wanted to give a plug for Daisy. She is a tough debater with a big heart. We differed strongly on this subject a while back and she asked some really challenging questions to which I still owe her some answers.

 

LE,

I disagree. I think that the Geneva Convention is good in offering standards, including standards by which we can be measured. One difference, though, is that we use them to judge ourselves, which our enemies don't do, precisely because they are, yes poncho, animals (whether of the jihadist or Communist breed). I do strongly object, however, to criticism from such countries as Cuba, Libya, and Sudan who have no business judging ANYONE and certainly should have no place on any international human rights body. Also, It is simply pathetic to compare Abu Ghraib with the actions of our enemies, especially when one also adds to that the hand-wringing that we did as a country when confronted with the facts of what happened there.

We do agree, though, that we should not grant Geneva Convention protection or Constitutional rights to such prisoners. There is a part of me that would love nothing more than to see revenge carried out against them, but, fortunately, it is not and should not be allowed (a point also made in at least one of the linked articles, I think the Krauthammer article), but that doesn't mean the comforts of home either.