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As newspapers and documentary films continue to discuss waterboarding and other controversial treatments of suspected terrorists, the debate over torture remains intense. Some insist that desperate times call for desperate measures, but others are baffled that such methods could exist in a civilized society. Is physical persuasion ever an appropriate means of interrogation?
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Information Obtained Through Torture is Not Reliable
Good Point, But...
This is perhaps one of the most effective arguments regarding torture. And it notes some critical things. First, people have a tendency to spout out whatever in order to stop the pain. 1984's third segment is an example of this. However, I will get to the circumvention of this in a moment. I fully agree that fear will impair memory, as it induces panic. At the very least, though, it means that we should shy away from those movie scenes where the prisoner is inches from losing some body part. If one was going to torture, give them some time to recover. And, of course, the classic "verified by two sources." Definitely, the more sources, the better.
HOWEVER, there is a return for two of the above. First, the two-people rule. Is it just me, or does that technically validate torturing several people to get matching stories? If it does, the arguer shot himself in the foot. And nasty though it is, it does meet the required standards to torture several people into voluntarily admitting something, provided that they aren't prodded into saying something specific. Second, in response to the false information, a degree of torture can be used. If information is not reliable, then make the punishment worse. And for God's sake, people, you ought to be using your discretion! If the information sounds sketchy, verify it elsewhere rather than speed off into the distance with it!
- Invalid Screen Name
February 7, 2009 1:36PM
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