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Torture, Three Thoughts On
Tomorrow, or more probably early next week given my TV-watching schedule, I'll post my thoughts on the SciFi Channel's TV series Ascension. Today, three thoughts on US torturing "terrorists."
Thought 1 - Dick Cheney
Once 9/11 happened, Dick Cheney ceased to believe that the CIA should be subject to the U.S. Constitution, statutes passed by Congress, international treaties, or moral prohibitions against torture. Those standards would be cast aside. In their place, moral relativism would reign. Any action undertaken by the United States would be subject to this test: Is it morally equivalent to what al-Qaeda did on 9/11?
Thought 2 - History
Related to the link above, the Founding Fathers knew exactly what they were doing when they passed the 8th Amendment prohibiting "cruel and unusual punishments." Simply put, torture was always used prior to trial to extract confessions, and the Founding Fathers were against that practice.
Thought 3 - Conspiracies, or Lack Thereof
As this fellow points out, the recent trend in terror is for lone wolves to attack without a conspiracy. In short, there's nobody to torture to find out when the next attack is coming.
Thought 1 - Dick Cheney
Once 9/11 happened, Dick Cheney ceased to believe that the CIA should be subject to the U.S. Constitution, statutes passed by Congress, international treaties, or moral prohibitions against torture. Those standards would be cast aside. In their place, moral relativism would reign. Any action undertaken by the United States would be subject to this test: Is it morally equivalent to what al-Qaeda did on 9/11?
Thought 2 - History
Related to the link above, the Founding Fathers knew exactly what they were doing when they passed the 8th Amendment prohibiting "cruel and unusual punishments." Simply put, torture was always used prior to trial to extract confessions, and the Founding Fathers were against that practice.
Thought 3 - Conspiracies, or Lack Thereof
As this fellow points out, the recent trend in terror is for lone wolves to attack without a conspiracy. In short, there's nobody to torture to find out when the next attack is coming.