Quote:
Originally Posted by Sangetsu
Why is torture used? Is it used just because interrogators are sadistic fiends who had unhappy childhoods and went to work for the CIA as an emotional outlet?
|
It does not require an uhappy childhood to become egotistical, power hungry and/or sadistic. A lot of it just internal wiring. But your description of the possible real motives of the interrogators is highly probable.
Quote:
The idea that torture doesn't lead to information is patently false. The catchword here is "reliable", but when trying to get intelligence there is no such thing as useless information. Every fact, no matter how minor, or what the context, is a piece to a larger puzzle, and potentially the key piece.
Once again, if a terrorist were caught on his way to blow up your neighborhood, or the train or plane that you (or one of your family members) had a ticket to be on, would you still think torture was unjustified?
It's far to easy for those of us who live in an insulated world to say that we oppose things like torture. We can criticize, theorize, or justify any view we like because we have never had to come face to face with the uglier side of humanity.
|
The problem with this is that far too much time, effort and expense is wasted following leads obtained in such highly unreliable means such as torture. And then there are the innocent people who lives are thrown into upheaval by the red herrings being chased down.
(Just some thoughts from one who's life has not always been so insulated, but is thankful it is now.)