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Pros And Cons Of Enhanced Interrogation

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Enhanced Interrogation Techniques, or EIT’s related to gathering and using information has been a controversial subject in military practice and the criminal justice field. More recently, the media has shed light on some of the gruesome CIA practices of systematic torture on suspects since the release of information on The War on Terror and Guantanamo Bay detainees. Specifically, the debate focuses on whether these enhanced interrogations yield accurate information and its legality based on human rights laws. Many justify the use of torture-like methods when highlighting the importance of combating domestic terrorism and stopping extremist groups. These interrogation techniques are not a recent idea. The use of interrogating people through …show more content…

Torture has evolved, from an archaic form of punishment, to the preferred method of extremists as well as the US Armed Forces secretive tactic of interrogating terror suspects. The inspiration for interrogating and torturing people began long ago. For example, medieval instruments were cruel and intimidating. Victims would be stripped and bound or suspended before a device was used to mutilate the body. Modern instruments or methods include less elaborate means. This includes ice buckets, waterboarding, cutting tools or simply restraining the victim and exposing them to harsh environments. Torture and its origins have been documented from 530 AD, when the Roman Empire used torture as the highest form of truth. Various forms of torture didn’t decline substantially until the 1900’s. It wasn’t until 2000, that rates of torture noticeably increased since the 50’s. In 2004, the global awareness group Human Rights Watch found that 80 countries were using torture and ill treatment of citizens to punish political opposition, used in investigations, military and interrogation (Liberman, …show more content…

Michael Hayden, he was asked: “What did you tell Leon Panetta, your successor as CIA director, to say about waterboarding?” Gen. Hayden replied, "Do not use the word 'torture' and 'CIA' in the same sentence ever again. You can object to some of the enhanced interrogation techniques. You can, in your heart of hearts, believe they meet some legal definition of torture. But Leon, you're taking over a workforce that did these things in good faith. They did these things with the assurance of the attorney general that they indeed were not torture. Do not accuse them of felonies." Michael Hayden went on to say, “Look, I get it. Honest men differ. A lot of good people describe these things as torture. The definitive legal judgment under which the agency was operating and you know sooner or later, Robert, someone has gotta call balls and strikes and that's the way it is. Pertaining to results, Gen. Hayden said that the information obtained from people who were subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques was vital. It allowed intelligence officials to gather information quickly after captives would resist, and later were “more willing to talk about the things we believed we needed to know to keep the country safe”(NPR, 2016). This highlights the primary concern of many interviews, which is limited

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Many have said that they would want nonlethal torture to be used in such cases but “did not want torture to be officially recognized by our legal system.” Similar statements have posited that while “torture might be necessary in a given situation it could never be right.” This approach, that of keeping torture off-the-books, is in direct conflict with the necessity for accountability and transparency in a democracy. A democracy cannot work if the public is kept in the dark. The public must know what is going on in order to approve or disapprove.

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It is very difficult to get dangerous people to talk, so we use dangerous methods to get them to talk. Getting all the information from prisoners, terrorists, gangsters, and mobsters held by the CIA is crucial to saving American lives. After the Boston Marathon bombing one of the suspects escaped from the scene and the other was caught by police, the one that was held by the CIA was tortured until he spoke of his brother’s hideout where police shot and killed the terrorist. Without torture there would still be a terrorist running free on the streets of Boston. In 2011 the CIA

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Applebaum has plenty of evidence to back up her claim that physical torture is not effective, and there are many other ways to obtain information. While the fear-encouraging and questioning elements are potent to many who are afraid of terror committed against them, but when the overwhelming sentiment of Levin’s argument is being compared to the logic and ethical points of Applebaum it is clear to see the superiority of her argument. Although Levin would advocate for physical torture in extreme situations, one must expect extreme consequences. Physical torture is rarely effective, violates rights, and damages a whole nation’s credibility. This is why physical torture should not be

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In the reading “The Case for Torture” written by Michael Levin, and published on the June 7th, 1982 edition of Newsweek. Levin argues in favor of torture as an acceptable way of obtaining information when innocent lives are at stake. Outlining three separate scenarios devised to make the reader reconsider the stance on torturer in order to protect the interest of those in the western area. The strength of this text is that the absence of reasoning does not strike the reader; he is overcome by Levin’s ability to break ethical decisions down to black and white. Levin begins with describing torture as “morally mandatory”.

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Anne Applebaum states “The really interesting question is not whether torture works but why so many people in our society want to believe it works.” Applebaum is against the use of torture as she questions its effectiveness. America has operated under the false pretense that torture is a viable option for obtaining information. She argues that torture damages the country’s image and does little to acquire useful intelligence. Torture is merely a way for officers to take their anger and frustration out on detainees.

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The prevalent use of torture in such settings conveys a common

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08 Feb. 2016. This source explains that torture is actually one of the last methods used when they are interrogating someone since many know that it has a very low success rate. If the person is not willing to cooperate, they go down a list. Many people thought to use the top methods as they are not as immoral. Getting to the end of the list thought means they have nothing else to make the person talk which is why they use

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The practice of enhanced interrogation techniques, considered by many as torture, has further tarnished America's commitment to human rights and ethical treatment. These violations of civil liberties have not only harmed the individuals directly affected but have also weakened the fabric of trust between citizens and the government, fostering a sense of unease and

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In recent news, the US Senate released its findings detailing the methods used by the CIA to interrogate prisoners of war (and alleged terrorists) captured during the Bush Administration’s War on Terror. This scathing 6700 page report, dubbed the Torture Report, details the techniques used; techniques that include sleep and light deprivation, waterboarding, sexual assault, and something called “rectal feeding”( Bioethics Program, 2014). This is of personal concern to me, as I was a medic in the Army, trained to uphold the Geneva Convention and save lives on either side of the conflict; plus the ordeal has become a blight on the APA-the American Psychological Association (who was named specifically), and Division Nineteen (Military Psychology);

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There are many interpretations of what torture is and how something can be classified as torture. In “Believe Me It’s Torture” Christopher Hitchens talks about the United States and its various uses of interrogation tactics to get Important information from suspected terrorists. In the article the author often brings up the waterboarding tactic that is often used and how there is a large controversy over whether it is in fact torture or if it is just simply harmless. The article states, “waterboarding was something that Americans did to other Americans, it was inflicted upon and endured by the Special Forces in a form of training called S.E.R.E (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) so that they could build up a resistance to it so that they

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For many years, the US Government has used basic interrogation techniques in order to force information out of prisoners and terrorists. However, after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the US Government initiated what they called “Enhanced Interrogation”. They initiated this process with the goal in mind to get more information out of terrorists or potential terrorists for the prevention of future attacks. No matter how controversial the methods, the CIA’s new methods may have good intentions, but proved ineffective when it mattered most. One method of interrogation used that most people are familiar with is a technique called “waterboarding”.

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Reports from the Red Cross, other organisations and released prisoners show that detainees are often subject to violent interrogation and torture, whereas the United States administration argues that the activities they are conducting are legal and do not breach any human rights. (Ratner, M. and Ray, E. 2004). Presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama have often defended accusations and reports claiming that inhuman techniques have

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In 2003 the US military relied on the confession taken from Sheikh al-Libi in which it was claimed that Iraq supplied both chemical and biological weapons to Al Qaeda. This testimony was used in the month leading up to the invasion of Iraq. Later al-Libi retracted his statement saying that he did so in order to make the torture stop. This is a clear example of the ineffectiveness of torture and the bad consequences it can often produce. The CIA had forgotten its own conclusion, sent to congress in 1989, that ‘inhumane physical or psychological techniques are counterproductive because they do not produce intelligence and will probably result in false answers.’

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Torture is universally prohibited in both national and International law worldwide. It is a fundamental violation of human rights that cannot be derogated from. Essentially, torture is said to constitute any physical and mental act by which severe pain or suffering is intentionally inflicted upon a person ( UNCAT).Torture is mainly used for purposes that are set out to degraded, embarrass, and induce destruction in the person being subjected to torture and those in close relation to the person being tortured .Torture is a mechanism used by those in authoritative positions to preserve themselves in power (Power, 2006:2). Despite the universal prohibition on torture, its use has been widespread throughout history, and especially of late in the wake of September 11 2001 and other recent terrorist atrocities to combat the aforementioned heinous terrorist attacks.

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In Defense of Torture “Because It Is Wrong:” A Meditation on Torture Rules Should Govern Torture, Dershowitz Says What ethical arguments are being made? Torture is okay to use. Torture is wrong. Torture should be okay in some circumstances

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