The real reason for torture

The debate over the use of torture to interrogate suspected terrorists raises some difficult moral questions. Having written many times in opposition to it, though, I find little evidence that its supporters care about those issues. A sensible, humane person could say: "Torture is tragically necessary in some instances to save innocent lives, but it is a terrible thing for a government to engage in; it must be subject to strict safeguards, and it must be used only when the information needed is vital to avert disaster, time is of the essence or other methods have been exhausted." But its defenders, many of whom I have heard from, never sound like that. In fact, they show no regrets or reservations. They make several arguments: saving innocent American lives is far more important than respecting the rights of suspected terrorists; these methods work; al Qaeda engages in far worse; and so on. Far from recognizing the need for safeguards and limits on such techniques, they would give the government a free hand to do whatever it chooses. There is ample doubt whether deliberate infliction of pain actually yields useful information. But ultimately, judging from my reader mail, that's irrelevant. The support stems mainly not from desire to get answers but the urge to inflict pain on people we find vile. Its advocates make it obvious that this cruelty is not an unfortunate byproduct but a positive attribute. That's why so many people endorse inhumane methods while disregarding any evidence that suggests it is ineffective. Their hatred of our enemies has made them indifferent to civilized norms. They want to see our enemies suffer hideously regardless of whether that enhances or degrades our security. The point of torture is torture. It is not a means to an end. It is the end itself.

There is one more reason for torture; that would be to get information you need in order to carry out policies which have already been decided, like an illegal war in Iraq. Given that several of the prisoners who were tortured were asked directly about the connection between Saddam and 9/11, over and over, it seems clear to me that that was the false Intel. the Bush administrations wanted to hear from the prisoners.

in Defense and national security | Permalink

Let The Sun Shine In......