Does Torture Work? - Senator Carl Levin
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Stumble ThisU.S. Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) argues that information gathered through torture is unreliable and can lead to disastrous results. He says "treating detainees harshly is actually a roadblock to getting intelligence" because it reinforces terrorist's distorted worldview.
Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee Carl Levin attacks former Vice President Dick Cheney's remarks over detainee policies of the Bush administration.
He describes his committee's findings, arguing that not only is torture amoral, but also inefficient and counterproductive. - Foreign Policy Association
Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee Carl Levin attacks former Vice President Dick Cheney's remarks over detainee policies of the Bush administration.
He describes his committee's findings, arguing that not only is torture amoral, but also inefficient and counterproductive. - Foreign Policy Association
Even IF torure works, the question is whether we lower ourselves to the level of those who will do anything (even the unspeakable) to protect ourselves.
The funny irony is that the right wing claims to be Christian, which is based on the idea of turning the other cheek, and yet torture, the lowest form of scum methods available, seems fair game to their fear-based reactions.
So which is it? Are you above horrible methods of those who DON'T turn the other cheek, or are you animals like those that are willing to torture the potentially innocent on the off-chance that they may say something that happens to be true?
The philosophical reality is that this country was founded on the premise that we are better than that. That we are willing to take the HARDER path towards our protection. We are willing to actually fight in a way that keeps us honest. Again, to be clear: it is okay to fight for out protection, but we have to keep a level mind about it. When you succumb to the baseness shown by those who are willing to do "anything" you become the same as them...
Very nice. That said, I'll take this a step further for the right-wing types.
Even IF torure works, the question is whether we lower ourselves to the level of those who will do anything (even the unspeakable) to protect ourselves.
That argument doesn't really work for people who think aything is acceptable to protect Americans. If gouging out their eyes seemed to work then the would probably support that too.
I think the "ineffectiveness" argument would go further, assuming it was believed. It doesn't matter how little someone cares about the moral side of things... if something simply doesn't work then there isn't any reason to support it.
Both arguments are valid, I just don't think the ethical argument goes very far with those who only see Muslims as "evil".