Torture

The subject of the use of torture to extract information in a military setting is something that has caused a large amount of controversy. First, we will explore my personal opinions as to the morality of torturing the solider and his children in this situation. Then to get a deeper understanding of the issue from a true moral theorist’s perspective, we will discuss aspects of both Kantian and Utilitarian theories as to why torture is morally wrong. To get a deeper understanding of this…

intelligence from those captured in the war on terror through the August 2002 memo otherwise referred to as one of the “torture memos”. The torture memos expressly justified the use of EITs to elicit information from detainees. EITs included, sleep deprivation, entomophobia exploitation, and waterboarding. These severe techniques were provided legal cover because the torture memo defined torture to be pain “difficult for the individual to endure and… of an intensity akin to the pain accompanying…

Torture is generally ineffective, effects those subjected to it for the remainder of their lives, and is unacceptable no matter the reason. Consider the United Nations, what it is and what it stands for. The United Nations wrote and signed something known as the Geneva Conventions. The Geneva Conventions explicitly state in article 3 that, “humane treatment is required for all people in enemy hands. The use of murder, mutilation, torture, and the use of humiliating or…

After the infamous September 11, 2001 attacks, the White House made torture its secret weapon in the war on terror. According to renowned history professor Alfred McCoy, Washington chose the CIA as the instrument used to fight against Al Qaeda. Surprisingly, Washington’s quick recourse to torture in the hunt for Al Qaeda replicated the same outcome of anger among the local population and alienation of the American people from the larger war effort first seen during the “dirty” Vietnam war…

The use of torture in the United States should not be justified. Torture is defined as intentionally causing physical, mental, emotional and psychological discomfort to the unwilling individual in order to gain information. This involves the employment of physical assault, administering mind-altering drugs, beatings, rape and all other behaviors that may most likely inflict heavy pain and bodily harm as well as affecting the mind of human beings. Personally, I am against the act of torture that…

there is a general agreement that torture is morally wrong, the prohibition of torture is also enshrined in fundamental conventions like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights. From a moral point of view, we agree that torture is ‘evil in itself’ (mala in se) : the act is inherently wrong by nature, independent of the law. This means that it is not required to base it on a legal rule to prove that torture is wrong, because the…

I will torture you if I have to. Throughout human history, human always tortured each other. As long as torture is one of the most efficient, convenient and reliable way, there will be tortures in the future no matter how ethics and moral develops. For those who think torture is barbaric, and must not be acceptable, next few paragraphs will clearly show why torture must be acceptable. Torture is one of the easiest, convenient and fastest ways to get Intel. Torture existed even before thousands…

Though torture has been prevalent throughout history, the 20th century saw a revival of torture techniques against perceived opponents of the state, and priority was given to state security (Green). The United States found several ways to evade their responsibilities under international law and allow torture to be used as a report by the UN human rights commissioner stated evidence of torture at Guantanamo Bay. The United States was also one of the primary sponsors of a Convention to prohibit…

“We tortured some folks.” Barack Obama, President of the United States, said in response to the release of the CIA torture report when he addressed post-9/11 America. Senator Dianne Feinstein accused the CIA of spying on the Senate’s intelligence committee. John Brennan, director of the CIA, denied that accusation. However, an investigation brought forth the truth; the CIA had penetrated a computer network used by the Senate Intelligence Committee and found that the Senate was preparing a report…

Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on torture has details of one being forced to stand for 24 hours straight before the CIA realized their mistake. There was also an innocent man who was deprived of sleep for 66 hours before they realized he might not be who they thought he…