The recent senate
report on torture has brought the issue to the forefront of late. Once again
people line up, mostly according to party affiliation. I see plenty of bull
shit coming from both camps.
To begin, there’s
nothing conservative about torturing people. And there’s nothing liberal about
covering up these acts when they do occur.
I hear people
say torture doesn't work.
Having been
tortured myself, I can tell you that torture does work.
Most people that
are reluctant or that refuse to talk will break and will talk when enough heat
is applied.
They may,
however, lie.
And they will
probably tell their interrogators what they think they want to hear.
I have seen and
heard lots of stories of people that confess to crimes they did not commit.
Torture works to
illicit false confessions.
Or concoct lies
that will be useful for propaganda.
Ever notice how
most Americans facing the knives of ISIS convert to Islam?
Think that was
real?
Dick Cheney and
crew wanted to prove a link between bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. Those doing
the torturing were told to find that proof.
One problem:
there was no link.
Torture is
illegal and it should remain so.
If an when the
time arrives that someone feels compelled to cross that line, and I daresay,
there will be times when it’s probably justifiable, they should face the possibility
of prosecution.
In other words,
the only time torturing someone can be justified is when consequences of
inaction are so compelling that it’s worth giving up your own life, your own
freedom, to illicit a response.
When that line
is crossed, (and it will be) the matter should come under judicial review.
Let the ax fall
where it may.
