Within this deductive essay, both sides of the issue at hand will be argued. Any information obtained and expressed throughout this essay will support my stance as to why any form of torture is not the safest nor the most reliable method, to use as a source to obtain reliable, actionable information. And why it is not permissible to use torture as a justifiable judicial means of punishment or information extraction but the possible use of
Torture is not a new ethical dilemma, because torture has been practiced throughout human history and in different cultures. Now, however, the Geneva Convention and other modern norms suggest that human beings should not resort to using torture. Torture is becoming taboo as a method of intelligence gathering, which is why the methods used during the Iraq war were decried. However, the ethical case can be made for torture. If torturing one human being leads to information that could save the lives of a thousand, torture suddenly seems like a sensible method. This is a utilitarian perspective on torture, which many people find palatable. However, there are problems with this method of thinking about torture. The state-sanctioned use of torture creates a normative framework in which torture becomes acceptable. Torture sends the wrong message about what a free, open, and enlightened society should be. Even if torture is only acceptable in extreme circumstances, as with a suspect who might know something about an impending terrorist attack, who decides when and what type of torture should be used? There is too much potential for abuse of the moral loophole with regards to torture. If the United States hopes to be a role model, then torture cannot fit into its intelligence methods.
Means of torture have been used around the world for a number of years. At one point in time it had been terminated in the United States; however, after the events of September 11, 2001, it has come back as an acceptable way to acquire information from terrorists.
Torture interrogation has been used throughout history, more so recently at Guantanamo Bay with suspected terrorists. The big question is, are the answers that are obtained through torture interrogation reliable, and whether torture is morally justified? The purpose of this document is to explain what torture interrogation is, why it may be used, how it’s done, and how it affects reliability.
In contrast, some individuals may debate that torture and even some more minuscule forms of torture can be beneficial to obtaining the information needed. It is debated that torture has been used in a large portion of political systems in history, and that the “degree” of torture is a significant component when deciphering right vs. wrong. Moher argues that in a political system where torture is justifiable and legal, the torture used would be less extreme than what it is today (Moher, 2013). It is reasoned that different degrees of torture are more acceptable than others, in that some are less psychologically and physically harming. A
The United States is considered one of the most powerful countries in the world. They have a well organized and trained armed forces. But, they were built with principles and moral standards. According to those rules, people could not do what they pleased all the time. The paper signed by the founding Fathers is, the Constitution of the United States, which prohibits the enforcers of the law to torture. Yet, it is still done. There is no straight statement that prohibits torture. An arguement of whether it can be legal or not is made, for the use of, retriving important information, the use of the 8th amendment and how 9/ 11 change some perspectives.
Torture has been a sensitive subject in our government and among the people of the US. The article “Torture is Wrong-But it Might Work” Bloche about how even though torture is not moral to some, it can still provide effective results because of advanced techniques and psychological studies. He goes on to say that many believe it is effective but others will say it does not provide adequate results in interrogation efforts. Senators such as John McCain (R-Ariz.) believe it does not help at all; however, other government officials, such as former attorney general Michael Mukasey and former vice president Dick Cheney, believe it does (Bloche 115).
Torture is commonly practiced all over the world, but most notably in the Guantánamo bay detention center in Cuba. It is most commonly used on prisoners of war to obtain useful enemy information, but it is not limited to that as it is practiced in normal prisons and jails. After experiencing torture, people don’t possess the same mindset. These (cruel ) sessions of
Torture of a person is defined as the action of inflicting severe pain on someone as a punishment or to force them to do something. Tormenting a person who is a severe threat to our country’s freedom is acceptable as long as they are not tortured to death. The torture given should depend on the harshness of the threat they are inflicting on the country and the people that inhabit it. Examples of severe threats could include terrorism, spying, fake news, fraudulence, and many more. These are the types of threats the government should be focusing on.
Bush, Dick Cheney, etc are in change for the use of torture, and they refused the expression ‘torture’ or argued that the action of CIA was patriotic. It seems like they are proving themselves that they are apart from the standard of civilization. But their resistance is fiercer than we thought, and they are trying to use terror to justify the use of torture. This is why we cannot entrust this issue to own solving abilities of the U.S. The United Nations human rights body turned out to solve the issue, and some countries presented criticism.
Waterboarding in Guantanamo Bay might sound enjoyable to the reader if they do not know the definition of these words. Waterboarding is a method of torture used to simulate the feeling of drowning, while Guantanamo Bay is a United States military prison where inmates are held without trial indefinitely. The article I chose for this essay discusses and analyzes the perils of the use of torture for interrogation during the American war on terror. During this period, towards the end of the Bush administration, the CIA used torture tactics, such as waterboarding, for interrogation, which caused concern and outrage in many American citizens. Political leaders remained unapologetic. When asked if he authorized such tactics, Vice President Dick Cheney's reply was that he was aware and supported them. Though legal action against political officials is required in some instances, brutality is still
In order for them to get the information to do their job properly, they have the EIT. This program does not include torture, and only makes the detainees uncomfortable in order to get information that could potentially save hundreds of American lives. In a survey taken, 59% of those surveyed believe that the CIA is justified in their treatment towards suspected terrorists. Furthermore, 53% of those surveyed believe that the CIA produces important information through their work. The Enhanced Interrogation Techniques the CIA uses to gather information is legal and
The use of torture as an interrogation method sparks many legal and ethical concerns. How can you authorize the infliction of physical violence onto a human being in order to gain information? As humans in Canada, we have basic human rights outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. According to this charter, under the rule of law “Everyone has the right to not be subjected to any cruel and unusual treatment or punishment” (Section 12).
Not only are the prisoners abused and neglected but they are also isolated for most of the time they serve. Along with the abuses already listed, they deny medical and family visits, food, and pay for prisoners (“Background Note: Cuba” 6). The people of the United States may find out about these horrid interrogations, they have much more to learn. Many people are shocked to find out the Pentagon has denied claims of any abuse in Guantanamo, although the people at the Pentagon admit to finding cases of the torture (Ardiente 2). To authorities this scheme acts as a minor problem, and it’s apparent they aren’t making it as much of a concern as they should. Techniques for interrogation were considered to be life threatening conditions that should not be tolerated by any presidential administration (Woodward 1). Detainees’ had no trial and no charges to bring to court so they went on many hunger strikes to protest (“Guantanamo Bay” 3). As a response to the prisoners’ hunger strikes, the American officials made the detainees undress completely, and they force fed them (Greenberg 5).
Rendition is a legal tool used by the U.S Government to transfer captured individuals from one country to another without going through formal extradition procedures (Rosenbach and Peritz, 2010). This process can be described as the governments terrorist catching tool, and like most government tools has been the subject of controversy regarding civil liberties. Catching Mir Aimal Kasi is described by Rosenbach and Peritz (2010) as the poster child for the good that properly using rendition can do, while Jane Mayer (2008) shows what happens when it is used with no accountability when she shares the story of Maher Arar. Extraordinary rendition is an even more streamlined version of rendition, it is rendition that does not require consent from the other nation involved. The use of rendition is among the most controversial pieces of U.S policy on the global stage.