Then let us forbid all forms of torture by law and with severe punishments for any interrogation at all.

If you buy into this, you are really shutting down intelligence gathering from interrogations of prisoners.

Is this sensible? Not in my opinion, it isn't. So where in the spectrum of interrogation techniques do you allow it to go forward, and where do you stop it? No one seems willing to take a crack at a comprehensive list of what each technique is, whether it is permissible, and under what circumstances. Much easier to argue for or against one specific technique, or let us ban all interrogations, which is patently stupid.

Without definitions and rules, the interrogators have few guidelines at all, except that there is some kind of limit, and no one can tell them how to discover it, or what will really happen if they exceed the limit, but also succeed in getting vital information out of the target. Or not.

Short of an agreed set of interrogation techniques, definitions, circumstances of use, and rules this entire argument is fatuous, and interrogators will continue to do what they think they have to do on the spot.

Who will step up and provide such a list and rules?

What we need, I think, is a Permissible Torture Court -- and we had better call it that, rather than falling back on more of those cute little euphemisms we're all so drearily familiar with by now -- similar to the FISA Court, in which a large supermajority of judges would be required to allow torture or near-torture in those rare emergency cases in which it might be justified.

No! that is not a perfectly sensible test. Would you call it torture if Iranians were doing it to a captured CIA asset suspected of participating in or planning terrorist attacks on Iranians.

what is moral and immoral is invariably decided by the victors. So, tell me, what happens to the morality when we lose?

Well, in this case, absolutely nothing. Does anyone actually drive to work each day believing that were it not for waterboarding, our way of life would seriously be threatened?

Our greatness and power come from our society and our culture, not from our waterboards.

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/world/mi5s%20torture%20statement/111865

If it didn’t work, do you think very many Intel and law enforcement agency would use it.

As I have stated what someone would refer to as torture and what one considered torture is two different deals. A shot down pilot is expected to be treated a certain way. If he is not then many would refer to it as torture. However the same acts against a criminal or spy would not be considered torture.

For example putting a pilot on trial for murder would not be considered the same as putting a criminal on trial for murder.

Conservatives cannot be reasoned with, so don't bother.

Anyone? Ferris?

Oh good lord. Why are you such a frightened little child?

I'll never be frigtenend of terorists or their liberal symathizers, but I do worry about what they do and how the do to others.

The right-wing torture chorus has provided him all the justifications he needs. Verily, they already have their reward.

The "Iran Test" being:

“Would you call it ‘torture’ if Iranians were doing it to a captured American pilot?”

You throw in the WMD issue and the ticking timebomb, but that is a distraction.

I don’t recall us torturing any Iran Pilot so how could we fail the above “Iran test”.

The TTB scenario is not meant to be the only scenario for use of HI “harsh interrogation”. However it identifies those who won’t even admit there are times to use HI. Therefore it is of no use to discuss with them when HI could be used since they have blinders on.

Would I torture a terrorist's child to save my and many others children? Only if it is the only way to save them and I would feel extremely bad for doing it. So are you saying you would let your child and others be murder.

Granted not everyone can make tough decisions. So if you don’t answer I understand, but don’t condemn me unless you are willing to make the tough decisions.

legitimacy only means so much when your in a fight to the death an enemy who will follow no rules, so you worry about what the rest think and i'll worry about us.

Oh good lord. Why are you such a frightened little child?