This is a New York Times article on the controversy surrounding whether or not the new administration will prosecute members of the the Bush administration for torturing prisoners.
I think that sometimes torture may be necessary in certain situations. However, I don't think we can ever do it. First of all if we are actively doing it then our soldiers will for sure be exposed to the same tortures abroad. We also give up all moral expectations and authority, which we have worked so long to achieve.
I believe that torturing is sometimes neccesary only if it protects our country's security. Other countries, especially second and third world countries have little or no laws against torture and really wouldn't change based on if the United States does it. Even though not every person captured is always quilty, I truely believe that if we capture 10 prisoners and 9 are quilty; That the one innocent person will make up for all the hundreds or thousands of Americans, that we could save based on the information we get through torture.
While I recognize the need for practices such as torture at these prisons, I too believe it is inhumane and wonder how successful it is gaining information on and from terrorist. The Bush Administration should be prosecuted for allowing torture at these prisons, however, I believe it will be difficult to build a case against him.
The possibility that a person who is innocent, or who at least doesn't know anything, could be tortured - that is, made subject to the worst sort of pain, indefinitely - should be enough to dissuade our endorsement of that practice. I honestly don't believe any conception of morality can be reconciled with torture.
While I believe that torture can be effective, I do not agree with the type of torture that has happened under the Bush Administration. Even though there has not been any additional terrorist attacks on U.S. soil since the commencement of waterboarding that doesn't necessarily mean that the lack of attacks is due to waterboarding. If this type of torture has been found illegal and people have been prosecuted for it like they have been in both Vietnam and WWII then it would be hypocritical for the Bush Administration to not be prosecuted as well. What gives us the right to violate the same international law without going unpunished?
I think it is inhumane to torture prisoners and hope that Obama ends these practices.
ReplyDeleteI think that sometimes torture may be necessary in certain situations. However, I don't think we can ever do it. First of all if we are actively doing it then our soldiers will for sure be exposed to the same tortures abroad. We also give up all moral expectations and authority, which we have worked so long to achieve.
ReplyDeleteI believe that torturing is sometimes neccesary only if it protects our country's security. Other countries, especially second and third world countries have little or no laws against torture and really wouldn't change based on if the United States does it. Even though not every person captured is always quilty, I truely believe that if we capture 10 prisoners and 9 are quilty; That the one innocent person will make up for all the hundreds or thousands of Americans, that we could save based on the information we get through torture.
ReplyDeleteWhile I recognize the need for practices such as torture at these prisons, I too believe it is inhumane and wonder how successful it is gaining information on and from terrorist. The Bush Administration should be prosecuted for allowing torture at these prisons, however, I believe it will be difficult to build a case against him.
ReplyDeleteThe possibility that a person who is innocent, or who at least doesn't know anything, could be tortured - that is, made subject to the worst sort of pain, indefinitely - should be enough to dissuade our endorsement of that practice. I honestly don't believe any conception of morality can be reconciled with torture.
ReplyDeleteWhile I believe that torture can be effective, I do not agree with the type of torture that has happened under the Bush Administration. Even though there has not been any additional terrorist attacks on U.S. soil since the commencement of waterboarding that doesn't necessarily mean that the lack of attacks is due to waterboarding. If this type of torture has been found illegal and people have been prosecuted for it like they have been in both Vietnam and WWII then it would be hypocritical for the Bush Administration to not be prosecuted as well. What gives us the right to violate the same international law without going unpunished?
ReplyDelete