Torture and politics
Amazing as it may seem, torture has shouldered its way onto the list of political issues. Candidates long accustomed to torturing the truth, now have to say what they think about how captured suspected terrorists have been treated. Questions of morality are being asked. Is torture always a war crime? Is waterboarding torture? No doubt, the Bush […]
Amazing as it may seem, torture has shouldered its way onto the list of political issues. Candidates long accustomed to torturing the truth, now have to say what they think about how captured suspected terrorists have been treated.
Questions of morality are being asked. Is torture always a war crime? Is waterboarding torture?
No doubt, the Bush administration can’t feel good about where such a discussion, conducted in the bright lights of the 24-hour news cycle, might lead. From “Torture Poisons the Future” at SLANTblog:
Yet, it seems that perhaps a third of Americans, according to opinion polls, believe it can be proper to torture certain captives in prosecuting the so-called War on Terror. Hey, why not? If popular action television heroes can use the old thumbscrew on their foes and get results within a one-hour format, then shouldn’t the USA’s armed forces, spies, and mercenaries/contractors have that same tool in their war toolboxes?
No doubt many other Americans aren’t so sure when it might be OK to use torture. Still others have made up their minds that torture is immoral and against law of the land. And, of course, there are those who would rather not even think about such a dark subject.
Problem is, now the mainstream media are putting waterboarding stories at the top of the news…
Click here to read the entire piece, penned by yours truly.
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