Monday, November 07, 2005

Torture

Via BBC,

It is ironic that the leader of the most powerful among free nations has to assert this.

We are as hawkish as they come, but do not condone torture of prisoners. That such torture has occurred in the course of the valid war on terror (including Iraq) is beyond question. Bush administration's unwillingness to accept responsibility for this defies comprehension.

The US legislature (via Vietnam-era POW and now Senator John McCain) is now in the process of clearly outlawing torture. Disappointingly, the Bush administration (who we otherwise support) contends this will hurt the war on terror.

While there is some merit in the argument that taking away the fear a terrorist (e.g., Khalid Shaikh Mohammad) has of torture might be counter-productive, we feel that the Bush administration has not earned our trust that given this tool (the threat of torture, not torture itself) it will not abuse it.

The great thing about America is that such weighty issues are discussed quite in the open. In contrast, we are not sure at all what GOI or Indian army's position and practice is on the same topic. We fear that India has as murky a policy as the US on this subject.
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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

PR:
really? do we not condone torture under any circumstances?
even if i pose you the much bandied, but compelling argument - what if your prisoner is complicit in and has access to the location of a ticking down down nuclear device, which could kill hundred of thousands of your compatriots.
would we still not condone torture?
if faced with the above scenario, i know i would be the first in line to vote yea. indeed, maybe even offer my services.

9:01 PM

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