"It works!" (The rationalization of "pragmatists" for torture.)

What strikes me most about this is the abject failure of the M$M and even DU to point out that this is the exact same stance taken by a man who beats his wife or girlfriend ... or a parent who beats a child. It is the eternal apologetic of cowards and bullies and the morally-bereft folks who habitually claim the 'ends justify the means' - the ethical claim of fascists and tyrants for millennia.

In merely two words, the ethical bankruptcy of such human garbage is laid bare, proclaiming both the dehumanization of others, be they wives, children, or 'enemy,' and the superiority of the sociopath's appetites and whims.

It's disappointing that all I see is the quibble over the 'truth' of the claim instead of noting the rather obvious symptom of sociopathy. Even on DU.

:puke:

Like the idea that it's okay to hold victims of torture because they might someday try to hurt you back.

:wtf:

Virtually identical rationalization.

And our whole nation is involved in it. :shrug:

It's not even negotiable for me.

They are WAR CRIMINALS

Torture is OUTLAWED as EVIL by many Nations for many many years

Changing the words don mean shit...its still a CRIME

Aside from whether it works or not, these rightwing torture freaks
don't believe they need "due process" to discern whether
they are torturing the right person or not. If they think
you are guilty of something... right or wrong, they
believe they have the right to torture you all they want...
anytime anywhere they want. Their ticking timebomb is
the ultimate strawman.

This my friends is our Dark Ages.

Any information is unreliable. Care to bet an agent's life on information gained by torture? Further, in any civilized court of law, it's inadmissible - fruit from the poisoned tree.

The prisoners were tortured for the same reason wives and children are beaten. Because the pathological cowards and bullies can.

Edited since I found the source:



Video and full transcript at the link.

I'm trying hard to think of a development more dangerous to a civilized society.

So, I'm inclined to see it as a consequence and not the other way around. :shrug:

attitude has been promoted heavily in the media for almost 30 years, everywhere you look there. It's not surprising that the end result would be a society based in fear and greed and doing whatever it takes to keep hold of whatever baubles they've managed to accumulate.

"It works!" is especially egregious because it doesn't. It would be offensive enough if it did work and they used it as their rationale, the fact that it doesn't work and they still use it just adds another brick to that giant wall of psychosis they're building around themselves and tragically, us.

edit: I am wrong -- torture does work to create fear among the people and to fabricate narratives. The rest stands.

:kick:

It's easier to dispute the claim than challenge the entire system.

Clearly, "normal" mental health isn't very healthy ... and the number of folks afflicted with some personality disorder (DSM-IV Axis II) in politics is probably higher than the general population. But the more common affliction (imho) would be NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder) to a greater (Dubya) or lesser degree instead of SPD (Sociopathic Personality Disorder). Cheney is clearly a sociopath, imho.

Oh, wait. No, it doesn't!

How can anyone think that waterboarding a person six times a day for a month will produce anything except the story the questioner wants to elicit/create?

"The end justifies the means". And these morons are not even ashamed.
:puke: indeed.