The American public is opposed to torture. But it's also opposed, and more strongly so, to war and bombs and the death of its citizens. So perhaps that's the reason that the C.I.A. has not disclosed its interrogation methods to Congress, and certainly not to us. Guantanamo Bay was a pretty rough incident for the interrogators, showing the public the army's inhumane and systematic degradation of prisoners' morale and willpower by stripping them of clothes and adorning them with black bags over their heads and all that.
But that was a while ago. People forget things.
In what appears to be a step toward ethical treatment, Congress passed on ban in 2005 on C.I.A. torture methods that constitute "cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment" of prisoners, but many of the members of Congress who voted weren't aware that the Justice Department had already decided that the methods didn't violate that standard.
Hollow steps.
Intelligence officials even claimed the most unbearable tactics were no longer in effect, such as "waterboarding," a simulated drowning of victims, but memorandums disclosed in 2005 reveal that such practices have continued in secrecy.
“I find it unfathomable that the committee tasked with oversight of the C.I.A.’s detention and interrogation program would be provided more information by The New York Times than by the Department of Justice,” Senator John Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said to the acting Attorney General.
You're killing me. The greatest power in the world can't keep track of the agencies that contribute to its power? Come on, America. It's like you're not even trying.
Can you imagine drowning?
Can you imagine being drowned?
I have a secret fear of Saran Wrap. When I was younger, I saw a movie in which someone was asphyxiated with a plastic bag tied around their neck until they had nothing left to breathe but their own toxic carbon dioxide. That recognition of impending death as your lips turn blue and you feel your head throb as blood pumps faster and faster, trying to circulate the oxygen that isn't there--what absolute terror.
To impose that terror upon another is worse than death, because it makes them acknowledge with excruciating certainty that death is near, but not immediate.
Whatever information a subject may withhold fails to warrant such grievous procedures.
Come on, America. Find a better way.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/washington/05interrogate.html?hp
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2 comments:
I completely agree with you jordan. If you have seen the movie Lucky # Slevin in the end scene two guys are killed pretty similar to your scenario, and it is pretty hard to watch. I consider it completely inhumane and frankly I'm disgusted that a supposedly civilized and developed country would consider such methods of interrogation. I understand the necessity in a "24" type of situation but if the government did a better job in the screening processes and other methods of policing then maybe it wouldn't have to come to such cruel and unusual methods.
I'm with you guys on this one. Torture is not acceptable. I recall reading that Bush recently said that "this government does not torture people,” but I don't know exactly how he defines torture. New York Times recently released some old Justice Department memos, one of which found it acceptable to use freezing temperatures and head slaps and certain other methods in interrogation. More light needs to be shed on the issue, and I'm sick of government officials witholding information and saying that releasing it would be dangerous. What happened to government for and by the people?
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