Mild Torture During Interrogations. That's O.K, Isn't It ?

[Az]

I am against physically harming the subject of interrogation. In all other cases, It's ok by me. ( yes, that includes standing for a long time )

[Hueij]

These people are not US citizens and have no rights.

Does that mean that I have no rights when I visit the US?

[Adalbertus]

And after mildly torturing them, they can be mildly executed.

You brought it to the point!

Truth finding is usually the reason for torture (they say, at least - I don't believe it). And to this, it doesn't do a good job. Of course there are situation where the torturer gets what he/she wants to have. But on average, torture doesn't give a result closer to truth. For any degree of torture there will be more who admit something they didn't do (and sometimes the stress of an interrogation alone - without torture - does the job!) than strong-minded guilty who confess only with torture. The only case where torture gives a result closer to truth is learning about (military) secrets. Which I despise anyway.

[mindseye]

I don't think it matters much what Apolytoners say about this.

What does Ashcroft think?

(tries, fails to suppress shudder)

[St Leo]

What does Ashcroft think?

Ashcroft thinks that every good American citizen should volunteer for a week of torture in order to prove that he (shes aren't citizens in Ashcroft's world) is not a perverted criminal. Those who don't volunteer are quite obviously commies who need to be lined up against a wall and shot.

[Sava]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Torture is never acceptable, not even to save a life.

You should have your head examined for even suggesting this, slowwhand.

[SlowwHand]

Evidently, once again, you didn't even read what the thread you're posting in is about, Sava.
Typical. At least you're consistent.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Pekka
Sure making someone stand is not torture if it lasts few hours.. but if it lasts 'till you confess' or few days, I think it's a bit too much. Everybody is not guilty anyway.

If it really becomes so painful to continue standing then I'd just sit on the floor. What could they really do to you if you refused to stand? Also I think we should make a distinction between torturing someone and simply making someone uncomfortable. Torture causes extream pain while disconforort is simply... well... uncomfortable.

[SlowwHand]

I love coming here. It makes me feel so smart.

Yeah. Don't worry. What could they realy do ?


Thanks, Oerdin. I needed a laugh.

[Dinner]

Laugh all you want my friend but when you're done rolling on the floor maybe you can stop and really think about the question. Since torture is outlawed, and juries are very responsive to throwing out any case they procieve as being tainted by police brutality, there really is very little the police can do to stop you if you pacifly sit on the floor.

In this case the policman's hands really would be severly restricted.

[SlowwHand]

Ok, but once again, this wasn't in the context of a policemen hassling you as you come home from a harmless trip to the library.
Get in line over there with Sava.

[NY Hoya]

torture is absolutely acceptable in limited circumstances. Not in cases to obtain a confession. As has already been pointed out, it is far from an effective technique in such circumstances. In other cases, in order to protect the lives of innocent victims, it is not only acceptable, but imperative that authorities take the steps necessary to save those in danger.

Can you people see no case in which the use of torture would be appropriate? Think of a case where WMD are in place threatening the lives of thousands or millions. You are kidding yourselves to think that torture would and should not be used to protect those innocent lives.

[Dinner]

Slowwhand perhaphes you will understand better if you read a few books about American law and pasive resistence. The book "Ain't Gonna Study War No More: The Story of America's Peace Seekers" by Milton Meltzer will help to fill you in on exactly what one can and cannot legally do as a pacifist resister in the U.S. plus it will help you understand the limits of police power.

[SlowwHand]

Oerdin, jeez buddy. At first I was joking, but now you can just be the leader of the line Sava is in.

[Boris Godunov]

The Constitution of the United States prohibits torture, case closed.

Oh, and despite jimmytrick's ludicrous assertion, the rights guaranteed in the Constitution, excepting those that apply specifically to citizenship, apply to everyone within U.S. borders or under U.S. arrest/imprisonment. You can't torture them, either.