Waterboarding has not been classified as torture by the US.
We can discuss torture in any context you want but waterboarding does not qualify, by itself, in the context of criminal activity at this point in time. If or when it is criminalized, we have a different discussion.
My personal views on the justice system, from plea bargaining with criminal informants to coercive treatment is one area that separates me from rightwingers.
There may be good reasons to criticize or abandon all kinds of practices used by authorities to gain cooperation.
When you manipulate the rules of decent conduct and fair play, you lose the confidence of society. Encouraging your enemies or criminals to sell out information in exchange for freedom is a form of blackmail. Exploiting fear, plea bargains, interrogation tactics designed to avoid or diminish the threat of harsh legal consequences may produce some short term results but they do not produce a confident citizenry … in fact, such stratagems are counter productive to that end.
When you attempt to intimidate the masses with threats of social disgrace, reproach, or banishment, you may produce silent compliance while fomenting resentment.
When the powerful and elite are allowed to limit or remove options in exchange for compliance, you may be able to coerce an obedient following but at the loss of personal integrity.
You can terrorize a group with vague threats of unpredictable harm until they give in to your demands but you will never have their loyalty.
All of these approaches weaken our confidence in human justice systems. The intimidation of tyrants, oppressive dogma, unjust social order, and deceitful power struggles threaten the greater autonomy in our individual lives of peaceful coexistence. The corrupt give up on continuing the struggle for a just and peaceful life. They/you do this to pursue one extremism or another for self serving purposes. They/you are caught up in the great race toward mutual destruction. |
