Why Is Torture Unethical

Torture is something that is known as wrong internationally. Torture is “deliberate, systematic or wanton infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons acting on the orders of authority, to force a person to yield information, to confess, or any other reason” (World Medical Association, 1975, pg.1). There is a general consensus that there is a right to be free from any kind of torture as it can be found in many different human rights treaties around the world. The treaties show that all of the thoughts about torture are pointing away from the right to torture someone no matter what the case

Torture is known as the intentional infliction of either physical or psychological harm for the purpose of gaining something – typically information – from the subject for the benefit of the inflictor. Normal human morality would typically argue that this is a wrongful and horrendous act. On the contrary, to deal with the “war on terrorism” torture has begun to work its way towards being an accepted plan of action against terrorism targeting the United States. Terroristic acts perpetrate anger in individuals throughout the United States, so torture has migrated to being considered as a viable form of action through a blind eye. Suspect terrorists arguably have basic human rights and should not be put through such psychologically and physically damaging circumstances.

“Torture and abusive interrogation tactics are illegal under both U.S. law and international law. Torture is prohibited under federal law, as are lesser forms of detainee abuse such as cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.” (Human Rights First)

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).

The Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution says, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” The fundamental idea of torture is to inflict mental or physical pain onto a suspect to coerce them into revealing information we desire. This tactic is illegal because it violates the Constitution, and in addition, it violates international agreements that our nation has committed itself to. The general provisions of the Geneva Conference of 1949 prevent the use of torture in warfare; the document specifically outlaws “Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating or degrading treatment…” By violating these laws, particularly the Constitution, our nation

“Torture: the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty” (Dictionary.com).The thing about torture is it will always get you an answer; it just won't always get you the right answer. Torture is banned at all times, including at times of war ("Torture."). This makes it extremely bothersome that the United States of America has facilities like Guantanamo Bay detention camp, built on the coast of Guantanamo Bay in southeastern Cuba in 2002. The camp is used to house suspected terrorists captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. The prisoners are held at the camp without charge and without the legal means a fair trial ("Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp…”). Of the total 779 prisoners that Guantanamo Bay has ever housed, Only 3 detainees have ever been charged and convicted of a crime ("History of Guantanamo”). Because of this, the facility has become a focus of worldwide controversy.

Although the use of torture has been around since the first century, most Americans did not debate on the controversial topic until after the Abu Ghraib incident surfaced in April 2004. The Baghdad Central Prison, formerly known as Abu Ghraib prison was a complex west of Baghdad. During the war in Iraq, US armed forces committed a number of human rights violations, including “pouring phosphorus liquid on detainees, pouring cold water on naked detainees, beating detainees” (Hersh) and committing other psychological, physical, and sexual abuses. At the Abu Ghraib prison, military officials abused detainees for several reasons or without providing a reason. Enhanced interrogation techniques are sometimes seen as necessary to extract information, punish detainees, and instill fear; however, occasionally torture is used without providing a reason. Proponents of torture insist its legitimacy in special circumstances, especially when handling international terrorists. Opponents of torture believe these human rights violations are medieval and inhumane. Torture is illegal in the United States and no United States agency can legally engage in torture abroad. No country should engage in enhanced interrogation techniques because the methods are a violation of ethical principles, a violation of international law, a form of cruel and unusual punishment, ineffective in combating terrorism, and immoral, dehumanizing acts related to a lack of moral integrity.

In Kenny Paul D. article “The Meaning of torture”, he states that torture is the action or practice of inflicting severe pain on someone as a punishment or to force them to do or say something. There are many different types of torture from rape, to both physical and mental torture. According to Mosul Torture Exposed, prisoners in Iraq were hung from the ceiling with their arms tied behind their backs. The men and women who are imprisoned, are whipped, shocked, raped, and the Iraqis who were performing the torture would add weights to the men’s backs that they hung from the ceiling. (See Fig. 2) The Iraqi soldiers also threatened the men’s families by saying that they would kill or rape the women if they did not confess to the crimes the men had committed, whether the accusations were true or not.

The justification for torture has a lot to do with the public belief in it’s effectiveness, although there isn’t any effectiveness. An article by Ronnie Janoff-Bulman (2007), talks about how there exists misconceptions in the public about the effectiveness of torture when interrogating. Bulman states “Americans believe that because torture is used, it must work; yet, instead it seems likely that one reason torture is used is because people think it works”. However, she found that many military interrogators believe otherwise, and they attest to the ineffectiveness of torture.

According to Mis and Vagner, “36% of people think that torture can sometimes be justified to gain information that may protect the public”(trust.org). Torture is often used to gain information or to punish individuals who have committed a crime. Without influence, some information may remain unknown unless the suspect is forced into talking. This can lead to many issues such as invalid information and the violation of human rights. Normally, the thought of punishment by anguish is appalling, but under the right circumstances, some believe it may be justified. It has been used many times in the past by some government agencies to gain information that is deemed essential for public safety, but does that make it justifiable? Torture is never

” Today we are engaged in a deadly global struggle for those who would intimidate, torture, and murder people for exercising the most basic freedoms. If we are to win this struggle and spread those freedoms, we must keep our own moral compass pointed in a true direction”( )Torture is a form of punishment the U.S. government and many governments us around the world. It is an effective tool to get information quickly, but under the Obama administration the United States stopped all use of torture. While many governments still support the use of torture. The United States however, went in a different direction taking torture out of all military personnel. Sighting information can be extracted in a more civilized and humane way. Many citizens of the United States supported the policy, and many did not like the policy. The United States has used torture in the past to find the location of many terrorists that have threatened our home land, and many of those instances lead to more American lives saved. Although torture has saved countless American lives, many of the strategies and forms of punishment are unethical, and unhumanitarian to use on people of this world.

The right to not be tortured is given to us but it is not always being respected. People who disrespected this right don’t care much about it, and they don’t care about the people that get hurt. Many of the people who torture today may have been tortured before, they might see

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

Most people that support torture do not realize just how ineffective it is. “A post-9/11 Pentagon report authored by retired Colonel Stuart Harrington offered that the success rate with jihadists might be closer to 60%. But he also added that under torture the other 40% ‘would tell you anything.’” (Moore, news.nationalpost.com) If the goal from torturing these terrorists is to protect the millions of people in our

Numerous people believe that if someone knows information that puts them in a situation of being tortured then, they must deserve it anyway. Others simply believe that everyone has a breaking point where if one does enough to someone, they will end up telling the truth. It can also be viewed that torture is for the greater good. They feel as though the torture and pain of a few people is better than the “possible” murder of innocent civilians (Mackler). Plenty of people are under the impression that those who are tortured do not receive any serious permanent damage.