Comments on: Torturing Terrorists http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/torturing_terrorists/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:16:33 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: dw http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/torturing_terrorists/comment-page-1/#comment-17019 dw Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=6149#comment-17019 I think what's key here is that there needs to be a distinction made between POWs and detainees. What happened in Al Gharib was happening to POWs, and that was beyond the pale by rule. What's happening in Gitmo is happening to detainees, and there is no rule or treaty governing them. The US can give rights to these detainees at their pleasure -- there is no compulsion to award them the same rights given to POWs. The one exception I would make would be for US citizens; they have Constitutional rights, and these must remain sacrosanct. We're walking a tightrope here. Prisoners need base rights, but they are prisoners. We need information, but torture often leads to bad information. These thugs are ruthless, though, and will use their rights to wiggle free and will not respond to anything short of extreme measures. Other than American citizens and POWs, there's not a lot of clarity. I think what's key here is that there needs to be a distinction made between POWs and detainees. What happened in Al Gharib was happening to POWs, and that was beyond the pale by rule. What's happening in Gitmo is happening to detainees, and there is no rule or treaty governing them. The US can give rights to these detainees at their pleasure -- there is no compulsion to award them the same rights given to POWs. The one exception I would make would be for US citizens; they have Constitutional rights, and these must remain sacrosanct.

We're walking a tightrope here. Prisoners need base rights, but they are prisoners. We need information, but torture often leads to bad information. These thugs are ruthless, though, and will use their rights to wiggle free and will not respond to anything short of extreme measures. Other than American citizens and POWs, there's not a lot of clarity.

]]> By: Zayphar http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/torturing_terrorists/comment-page-1/#comment-17020 Zayphar Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=6149#comment-17020 Phil Carter writes: <i>"The crux of the argument is that evidence gotten through torture is inadmissible, thus, the use of torture on terrorists means that they (and possibly their confederates) cannot be effectively prosecuted in federal court."</i> Mr. Carter is missing the central point. In these instances, the US is <i><b>not</b></i> trying to prosecute these people in a federal court. Therefore, the fact that the information is not useable in legal proceedings is irrelevant. If no useful intelligence information was being acquired, then you would have a valid argument for stopping the use of these methods. Since I am not privy to the intelligence reports I have no way of knowing the quality of the information so acquired. I am willing to withhold judgment, and so should you. Peace and Freedom for an Independent Iraq Phil Carter writes:

"The crux of the argument is that evidence gotten through torture is inadmissible, thus, the use of torture on terrorists means that they (and possibly their confederates) cannot be effectively prosecuted in federal court."

Mr. Carter is missing the central point. In these instances, the US is not trying to prosecute these people in a federal court. Therefore, the fact that the information is not useable in legal proceedings is irrelevant.

If no useful intelligence information was being acquired, then you would have a valid argument for stopping the use of these methods. Since I am not privy to the intelligence reports I have no way of knowing the quality of the information so acquired.

I am willing to withhold judgment, and so should you.

Peace and Freedom for an Independent Iraq

]]> By: point2point http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/torturing_terrorists/comment-page-1/#comment-17021 point2point Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=6149#comment-17021 <strong>Should We Torture Terrorist Leaders?</strong> Should the US torture terrorist leaders? The Atlantic Monthly carried a fascinating and evenhanded examination of the topic by Mark Bowden a few months ago. --- Should We Torture Terrorist Leaders?
Should the US torture terrorist leaders? The Atlantic Monthly carried a fascinating and evenhanded examination of the topic by Mark Bowden a few months ago.

---

]]>