An Argument For Torture In War

The War on Terror has produced several different viewpoints on the utilization of torture and its effectiveness as a means to elicit information. A main argument has been supplied that torture is ineffective in its purpose to gather information from the victim. The usefulness of torture has been questioned because prisoners might use false information to elude their torturers, which has occurred in previous cases of torture. It has also been supposed that torture is necessary in order to use the information to save many lives. Torture has been compared to civil disobedience. In addition, the argument has been raised that torture is immoral and inhumane. Lastly, Some say that the acts are not even regarded as torture.

Is torture justified? Does it make us feel safer? Most Americans would say that it is immoral to torture any human being for any reason. There are a few people left who would disagree with that and say that some deserve to be tortured in order to obtain information that could potentially save the lives of hundreds or thousands.

Is there a case for torture? Throughout the world for many centuries torture has been a highly debated and very controversial topic. It all started in Greece when slaves would get tortured to collect evidence for trials, crimes against the state, and treason. Not long after, the Roman Catholic Church and the Nazis’ began to use torture as well. During this time witnesses noticed what was going on and did not agree with it but had no way of stopping it. All across the world, a group of nations came together to make an agreement in opposition to torture. Not all nations were agreeing to not allow torture in their country, yet the majority of countries did agree. Even today it is hard to make the whole world agree to not doing something but making these agreements allow individual countries to comprise a support system. Many public figures and educators have made their opinion public but it has not yet evoked a change in the agreements originally set by the Geneva Convention. Torture is still today a very controversial topic with compelling arguments for both sides of whether to torture or to not.

Torture is a conversation that is spoken on the moral ethics of it. One side that it disregards human life and others say that it is necessary in acts of terrorism or war. I have the same feelings I do for the death sentence and general imprisonment. Deep investigation and complete objectiveness. Although, there usually isn’t a need for investigation for acts of terrorism, but due to the high amount of prejudice in our current time I would suggest to investigate it anyway just in case.

The main reason why torture can be justified is that it is a means of preventing terrorism. As is states in the dictionary, the definition of terrorism is “the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for

“Rather, this discussion deals with torture for the purpose of preventing a greater evil.” Page. 125

In “The Case For Torture” an article written by Michael Levin, he attempts to justify the use of torture as a means of saving lives. Throughout the article, Levin gives the reader many hypothetical examples in which he believes torture is the only method of resolution. Though I agree with Levin, to some degree, his essay relies heavily on the fears of people and exploits them to convince people into thinking pain is the only way. In certain aspects, I could agree entirely with Levin, but when one reads deeper into the article, many fallacies become apparent. These fallacies detract from the articles academic standing and arguably renders the entire case futile. Levin’s strategy of playing with the fears of people is genius, but, with more

Under no circumstances should torture be an acceptable method to gain intelligence. In specific situations, stress positions can be adequate as long as they’re still within the parameters of the Geneva Conventions. The United States signed the document at the Convention Against Torture and thus needs to uphold the conditions of the agreement. Through the works of Hooks and Mosher and the Torture Memos, I hope to justify my belief that torture is unacceptable.

Torture is a very sensitive and well-debated topic post 9/11, and the fight on terrorism faced by the U.S. and in many cases the whole world. Torture is defined by Merriam Webster dictionary as “the act of causing severe physical pain as a form of punishment or as a way to force someone to do or say something.” So this crucial and well-debated question has many opinions and sides to it.

On the other hand, some believe torture is justified. They may argue that it's important to do whatever it takes to get the information needed, or to save the lives of others. It could also be viewed as justice for the crimes that have been committed. An argument some have is that the ends justify the means. The end does not justify the means. It’s about being the better person and having everyone feel safe and secure in a place where

Overall, torture isn’t morally or ethically right. It has no positive effects on a human and completely violates the right of life that we are all given. There isn’t social justice in it, however, many will argue otherwise in extreme situations. Throughout the world today, torture is still being used, especially in the Middle East, by groups like ISIS. It is something that needs to be addressed in the world before things get too far-fetched. If we all don’t stand together as a whole to get rid of any country or person from using this method, then it will continue to taint our

Throughout history the use of torture has been used to not only punish people for their crimes, but to extract information from them. According to historian Nancy Bilyeau, during the Tudor period in 16th century England, “For many prisoners, solitary confinement, repeated interrogation, and the threat of physical pain were enough to make them tell their tormentors anything they wanted to know” (Bilyeau, 2012). Following various events leading up to and including World War II, as well as subsequent conflicts around the world, the fight for human rights has been expanded. Today, torture is defined by the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) as, “…any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally

and Unlawful Military Detention in Rwanda.” This report documents unlawful detentions in military camps and “widespread and systematic torture by the military”(“Rwanda Detention”). Cases were found where judges and prosecutors ignored complaints from current and former detainees about their ill-treatments. Ida Sawyer, director at Human Rights Watch stated, “Impunity for unlawful detention and the systematic use of torture has lead many victims to give up all hope for justice” (qtd. “Rwanda Detention”). Research proves that Rwandan military forces can use torture whenever and however they please. This is a violation of Rwandan and international law, which prohibits

Verity is describing her capture and torture as a prisoner of war. Von Linden is her captor. He is trading her clothes that she has been completely stripped of in exchange for the wireless code that she can provide to him. She says there are eleven strings of code in all and that so far she has given him four strings of code—earning her back four pieces of her clothing. She has also been able to earn a pen and paper to write in exchange for another string of

Firstly, torture is an effective information gathering device. It was stated in the book “Torture: When the unthinkable is morally permissible” of Mirko Bagaric and Julie Clarke that “Human have an intense desire to avoid pain, no matter how short term and most will comply with the demands of a torturer to avoid pain."( Bagaric, M. & Clarke, J, 2007). Sometimes, even the threat of torture alone would make the criminal cooperate with the interrogator. Professor Alan Dershowitz the renowned civil libertarian and law professor at Harvard University, has also been a supporter for the legalization of torture. Professor Dershowitz cited a kidnapping case in Germany in which the son of a banker was kidnapped. The boy was missing for three days and even though the police caught one of the kidnappers red-handed after seeing him collecting the