Enhanced Interrogation Methods? No, The Word Is "Torture" | 26 comments (26 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

What Pussyfooting? (4.00 / 6)

I am sick to death of all the pussyfooting around the subject that has occupied the media for the duration of this premeditated, illegal war of terror that we the people of the United States have allowed to be waged against the people of Iraq, in our name, for the last several years.

This
CNN.com - Dershowitz: Torture could be justified - Mar. 3, 2003

BLITZER: Alan Dershowitz, a lot of our viewers will be surprised to hear that you think there are right times for torture. Is this one of those moments?
DERSHOWITZ: I don't think so. This is not the ticking-bomb terrorist case, at least so far as we know. Of course, the difficult question is the chicken-egg question: We won't know if he is a ticking-bomb terrorist unless he provides us information, and he's not likely to provide information unless we use certain extreme measures.
My basic point, though, is we should never under any circumstances allow low-level people to administer torture. If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to be done openly, with accountability, with approval by the president of the United States or by a Supreme Court justice. I don't think we're in that situation in this case.

is not PussyFooting. The "ticking bomb" scenario is a contrived excuse to make apology for torture a legitimate subject for political debate.

We have met the enemy, and it is us — Pogo

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Oct 16th, 2007 at 06:55:36 AM EST

Re: What Pussyfooting? (4.00 / 4)

well lets just remind people of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

The USA signed and ratified this on the 20 November 1994 (pdf warning)

and from article 2 of the treaty

2. No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Tue Oct 16th, 2007 at 08:29:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What Pussyfooting? (4.00 / 2)

Maybe Dershowitz will culminate his career as a defence lawyer in high-profile criminal cases by defending himself and the Bush Administration in a trial for Crimes Against Humanity.

We have met the enemy, and it is us — Pogo

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Oct 16th, 2007 at 08:38:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What Pussyfooting? (4.00 / 2)

either that or he's pitching a new tv series, now 24 has softened the audience up for that.

it ought to be done openly, with accountability, with approval by the president of the United States or by a Supreme Court justice.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Tue Oct 16th, 2007 at 08:47:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What Pussyfooting? (4.00 / 3)

"Dershowitz - Torture Czar".

Where's Sven to write the pitch?

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue Oct 16th, 2007 at 08:50:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What Pussyfooting? (none / 1)

I wonder what response youd get if you actually did pitch something like that to a US tv network? ;-)

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Tue Oct 16th, 2007 at 08:53:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What Pussyfooting? (none / 1)

"Will there be titties?", to channel Bill Hicks for a moment.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue Oct 16th, 2007 at 08:56:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What Pussyfooting? (none / 1)

only to destract from the cleaners mopping up the blood if one of the questioners answers at an inapropriate time for an ad break

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Tue Oct 16th, 2007 at 08:59:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What Pussyfooting? (4.00 / 5)

How about if a politician agrees a technique is not torture, then the Sunday chat shows and senate inquiries are quite at liberty to use that technique to get information out of said politician. Too many politicians just dont give straight answers on tv nowadays.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Tue Oct 16th, 2007 at 09:21:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Enhanced Interrogation Methods? No, The Word Is "Torture" | 26 comments (26 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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