Recently, I watched the Oscar winning movie, Zero Dark Thirty, about the manhunt for
Osama Bin Laden. The movie has been
somewhat controversial for graphic depictions of torture that the United States
employed in an attempt to get individuals to provide information on Bin Laden’s
whereabouts. President Bush is on record
as saying he approved the use of certain “tools” on known terrorists including
waterboarding, a freezing cell, and long periods without sleep, standing or in
stress positions. Pressure is currently
mounting on the Obama administration to allow access to more documents
pertaining to the CIA’s terror suspect detention program during the Bush
administration, to clarify exactly what methods were employed, on whom and for what
specific purposes.
So my question to you this week is, “Do you think the United States should torture individuals who may provide information needed to combat terrorism? Does it make a difference if the terrorists are foreign or domestic?” Answers are due no later than Wednesday, April 24th, 2013. My thoughts are prayers go out to my fellow Americans in Boston, and those affected by this tragedy.
P.S. April is sexual assault awareness month! Next week, I plan to blog about this issue, and all through April and May I will be raising supplies for the Julian Center, a local domestic violence shelter. Click here to access their wish list: http://www.juliancenter.org/Donate/Wish-List.aspx You can bring any of these items to class over the next two months to be a part of this great cause. Last year, the AI students donated over $1,000 items!! Let’s see if we can beat that total!
UPDATE: After an encounter with the police last night, which left one police officer as well as one of the suspects dead, followed by the largest manhunt in American history, I am happy to report that the second suspect is now in custody. Thank you to all law enforcement and first responders. True American heroes!
ReplyDeleteTorture of terrorists for information is a touchy topic. On one hand, we have what could be a plethora of information that could be given to us with the use of pressure. At the same time, we ourselves look like terrorists when we try to beat the information out of them. Do the ends justify the means? I'd say it really depends on the situation. I don't think it would matter if the terrorist was foreign or domestic. I mean look at people like Charles Manson and Timothy McVeigh. By every definition, those guys are terrorists (was, in McVeigh's case). If they had information we needed, I don't think we'd have hesitated to beat it out of them (although, Manson is bats*** crazy, so he'd be a lost cause). At the time of writing this, it appears that the second suspect is now awake and responding to questions through writing. I'm curious to see how this plays out. With any luck, the threat ended with him and his brother.
ReplyDeleteI believe that we,"The United States," should not torture anyone whether they are foreign or domestic. I think that torturing another life is cruel and unreasonable punishment. How does that make us any different from actual bad guys? It doesn't, torturing a soul is inhumane and it does not make you a hero, only a monster. What I want to know is how the people felt who were doing the torture because if they did it with pride and no regret, then they aren't human.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the usage of torture foreign or domestic can be a bit of a slippery slope. We as Americans always have had that feeling of inner turmoil when it comes to doing what's right and what's right for our country. It's an important ideal since "truth, justice, and the American way" is what sets our country apart from others, we are allowed to speak freely without fearing for our lives. I personally think that when it comes to torture it definitely can be a gray area, but I feel that if torture has to occur then it has too. Unfortunately, we live in a world where not everyone is friendly towards, and as a superpower we must make tough decisions that have to potential to affect America in the present and the future.
ReplyDeleteI think...torture has its uses. Torture has been around for hundred of years in a myriad of forms and its prevalence has become a sort of normality in our society--in that when such measures have to be done, so be it. But, I definitely agree there are some gray areas, where things can go too far, and then there's outcry. Too though, in my opinion, torture should remain the same throughout the board, be it domestic or foreign. Terrorism is, more or less, the same (in ideals and whatnot) regardless of where it's coming from.
ReplyDeleteI feel that fear should be the strongest strategy used to make one divulge information. Many of men's spirits cannot be broken through ways of fear and intimidation. When this does not work torture is the only solution that comes to mind. Foreign and or Domestic should be treated and accountable the same since all men are created equal so should the punishment be unbiased.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to just outright say that torture is wrong and should never be used because...well, like Ashley said, it has its uses. If the situation calls for it, then I can't say that I'm against it. Foreign threats and domestic ones should not be treated differently either. A threat is a threat and should be dealt with as such.
ReplyDeleteIf a situation is serious enough then I can's say I am against it. Sure it seems bad but if you hurt innocent people and it should be dealt with properly. A threat should be dealt with by the right means necessary depending on the severity of the threat/attack. Foreign and domestic ones should be treated the same.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter the ethnic back ground of the terrorist. I still think that terrorist is not the best word to call these guys who instill terror into our delicate American hearts. The government pretty much okays a majority of what the people of the US think is unconstitutional. I feel like our torture methods are pretty tame if its just water boarding or making someone stand until their legs go weak. It doesn't really seem lethal, not too lethal at least.
ReplyDeleteWe're not drilling holes into peoples legs or cutting the skin in between their fingers, or jamming bamboo splinters under their fingernails, or cutting a smile into their face, or flaying people... at least not that we know of.
I just hate how innocent US people are always the victims of these attacks on the US. I'm not saying other countries aren't innocent, and I'm not saying that there are never terrorist attacks in other countries. But the attacks on the US specifically, innocent people are always minding their own business or caught off guard when they're blown up.
I'm not saying the terrorists should, but I don't get why the government hasn't been attacked successfully. Why are the people of the US getting the short end of the stick? My best guess is the heightened security of the government and we're just too easy.
I feel like torture should be the very last measure we take. We need to try every other option first before we move onto torturing another human being, no matter what they've done. Growing up, I was always told that two wrongs don't make a right. So saying they deserve to be tortured just because of what they did isn't a very good reason for torturing people. I think that foreign and domestic criminals, or "terrorists", should be treated in the exact same manner.
ReplyDeleteI don't condone to torture, however it is in human nature to be violent. We are accustomed to destruction and violence, it's just the way we are.
ReplyDeleteDo I think that we should torture terrorists to get information out of them. No I do not. But if it means that we could get closer to the source of that terrorist group and put an end to it then by all means, every risk should be taken.
Like I said, I do not condone torture but if necessary, then extreme measures like torture should be used to get a lead towards the big picture.
I have always been against torture unless it is necessary. I remember watching a documentary about three Muslim men in England being mistaken for Al Qaeda members and shipped to Guantanamo Bay. They underwent torture to the point where they falsely claimed they were working with Al Qaeda just so they would stop torturing them. Eventually they were set free and all there charges were drop.
ReplyDeleteUnless you can prove that they are part of a terrorist organization group then torture should never be condoned.
I'm against torturing unless we have plenty of evidence to prove that the person was part of the crime. It really depends on the situation and the scale of the crime. I would say put then through trial and some hardcore interrogation in order to get more evidence out of the suspects. Even if we torture the suspects to get the answers out faster it's inhuman and will only case more violence in the world.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that torture is really that effective at all. It has been proven that talking to the prisoners and getting their trust has been far more effective then torturing for information. It takes a little longer but the information received is a lot more likely to be true then when the prisoner is tortured. There is also by chance that the captured prisoner may not of been a huge part of what the crime was or even was forced to help the true perpetrators. I do think there is i time to turn to torture is when there is immediate danger of bomb plot taking place and information is needed quickly to save lives. Even then to me it is pretty iffy.
ReplyDeleteTorture is a strong way to physically harm someone. We're gaining information for what we feel are the right reasons. But I don't believe that. I feel we use torture because we're impatient and can't get what we want. This shows us to be childish. Torture shouldn't be condoned, but it's allowed to combat terrorism, or "get them before they get us" type of attitude. Instead of going against terrorist, it's like we're pushing ourselves away from others. We're afraid of the people around us and want to hurt or torture anyone that gets in our way, and that makes me feel like the United States is a coward. I understand the attacks that have been made on us, and how deeply scarred we are, but torturing another individual just to make a change isn't right, foreign or domestic.
ReplyDeleteIsn't there a clause in the Geneva Convention Codes against the torturing of enemy combatants. Besides, the people in Guantanamo Bay that are being detained there aren't even considered prisoners of war, of any crimes... That to me is torture.
ReplyDeleteDo they deserve it? In my opinion; if they are indeed culprits of enemy factions who conspire to harm this country. Then, deserve to be punished. But water boarded, put through shock treatment, or any device to torture for information, or any other reason is inhumane... When you could just shoot them, cause you know that they are enemy combatants.
I believe that no one individual or organization should have the right to torture another for information, especially when it is not guaranteed that the person being tortured actually has said information. It also does not make a difference if a "terrorist" (I use the term loosely because I believe it is a term manufactured by our government to incite feelings of vengeance and paranoia) is domestic or foreign. I think that many people in this country are under the impression that the only people who want to cause harm to America are those who don't live in America. That said, I think that we can learn a lot about this kind of activity by taking the remaining Boston bomber into custody and analyzing why someone would commit such a heinous act. I think it is very unfortunate that America's first instinct is to fire a weapon before education itself as a country.
ReplyDeleteI believe that using torture methods are important for only certain circumstances. I mean you can't expect to catch a terrorist and detain him for a month with shelter food and water and do nothing to him and get him to talk. I'm sorry but thats just not going to happen because there is no urgent or real physical reason to explain why or give any information. On a close related note, we also can't blame our armed forces and put the torture idea on them. They are just doing what they are told and doing there job. Just be glad you have to right to disagree.
ReplyDeletetorture is a bit of a tough one. You have those who feel it's wrong to hurt a human because why would you want that to happen to you but when it comes to innocent lives by the hundreds or thousands some people change their minds.the situation and the severity of it I feel can play huge role on maybe the amount of torture that is needed. I'm not much for pain and it's hard for me to distinguish exactly how I feel about hurting another humanbut knowing that they could hurt more than just one can sometimes sway your vote
ReplyDeleteI don't think that torture is even useful, nevertheless inhumane and unethical. Torturing someone in order to get information could not only hurt innocent people who may have nothing to do with the matter, or it can simply end up with a broken person who will tell you anything you want to hear, true or not, in order to make the pain stop. I don't think the US should stoop to low levels in order to find terrorists, whether they are foreign or local. This is 21st century, and I would like to think we can find a way past that kind of violence by now.
ReplyDeleteInformation could be obtained in a more timely format through the administration of torture methods such as, capturing terrorist or stopping hundreds-to-thousands of deaths. Take into account that if we were able to stop 9/11, thousands of lives could have been saved, as well as billions of dollars in relationship to economical damages that were sustained. Tell me, what is more important then protecting American lives (isolating to only US)?
ReplyDeleteThere are a numerous amounts of reasons why not to torture someone. But there are also inconceivable ways to torture that the majority of the population has been reluctant to even purpose as a method; humane procedures. Such as blatant music surrounding the room. I believe it would be safe to say that, anything that "we" are doing to their soldiers or insurgents are inconceivable to what "they" are doing to our soldiers whom have been captured and kept captive. Whomever the interrogator may be, they will only be able to dispense a wide arrangement of questions. Information that could be relinquished from torture in order to save millions. Regardless of being foreign terrorist organizations and domestic terrorist organizations.
If a human is being tortured, the words that come out of their mouth are often going to be exactly what the torturer intends to hear. I immediately put myself in the situation when I read the blog, and I would instantly spew whatever information they seem to desire. Years of research have proven that torture has effects on neurochemistry actually increasing the chances of giving false information. Stress alters memory functions, so provoking a human in ways that makes them uncomfortable mentally and physically seems rather counterproductive to me. I do understand that desperate circumstances require desperate methods of action, and I can’t come up with an alternative way to get information out of guilty individuals. I do condone the fact that they are only resorting to this method for a positive, helpful cause, and I do expect serious repercussions to come to those who are terrorizing innocent people. I just do not personally agree with torturing someone until they say a certain piece of information. The region that a person causing harm to others is from is irrelevant, so my stance applies to both foreign and domestic terrorists.
ReplyDeleteI think we could solve the issue with non violence first. If that does not work then maybe be forceful and I am thinking from a perspective of getting important information to save lives. If torture is what is needed then they should have came clean when you warned them. Torturing the innocent is a different story, but the criminals themselves I can see. I mean we already have the death penalty in some states.
ReplyDeleteTorture is completely necessary, but it is easier to ignore. On one hand you could assume that a great deal of confessions obtained during torure could just be the prisoner telling the torturer what they want to hear (to make it stop). On the other hand there is a lot of solid useable information that would not be obtained by asking nicely. It's real easy to be unapreciative and born in the greatest country in the world (not realizing how lucky you are) and from your sofa say how wrong that torture is no matter what, but the only reason you are able to do so and have an opinion like such is because rough men are willing to do violence on our behalf. Technically it is a crime on humanity. Police can't do it, military can't do it, that's why we have spooks; because if you're known around town as the torture guy I don't know how that would turn out. Torture is necessary to get information. I am against stuff like the patriot act that gives the government the authority to nazi style pick you up and detain you for an indefinate amount of time (with no trial) if you are suspected of being a terrorist. It was started under Bush but ultimately continued under the current president (who is just a different colored snake). whatevs
ReplyDeleteI believe that actions speak louder than works, but in this case theirs an accept-ion. Terrorism comes in many ways. Which most of them are violent. I feel that the past of both our countries has to do a lot with it. If it has gotten resolved a long time ago then this incident would of never happened.
ReplyDelete