White House, Congress Reach Agreement on Torture Ban
We needed to reach an agreement on a torture ban? Shouldn't that just be a resounding universal understanding that torturing people is bad.
President Bush has reached agreement with Republican Senators on a law barring the cruel or inhuman treatment of foreign detainees in U.S. custody. The Bush administration had originally threatened to veto the measure saying it weakened the president's ability to fight the war on terrorism.
Alright, here's my argument. I know many will disagree with me on this but lets be reasonable. Let's say there's an Al-Qaeda sleeper cell activated somewhere in the US. There are five members to this cell. We catch one. He doesn't want to talk to authorities. No matter how many times we say please or how many cookies we offer him, he remains tight-lipped. Now, in the meantime, the other four lunatics are planning to deteonate a nuclear weapon in your backyard. I really don't mind if we slowly remove each and every finger on his hand until he spills his guts. The end justifies the means in this case.
Now, I understand the argument that we would run the risk of torturing an innocent and that is why I present to you this. Let's take Khalid Shiekh Mohammad for example. Admitted Al-Qaeda terrorist. High ranking in the network. No question of his involvement in September 11th attack. Why do we care if the CIA is letting a Doberman chew on his genitals so we can avert any future attacks or maybe, dare I say, bring in other people responsible for September 11th, like, I don't know, Bin Laden or Zawahiri to justice? Shouldn't we agree that this gentleman forfeited his human rights when he participated in an act that violated over 3,000 peoples right not to be killed by a passenger plane.
As long as we play by rules that terrorist don't pay mind to, we will never win. Sometimes you have to play dirty. Protecting the country isn't a board game like Trival Pursuit. Sometimes you have to throw the rule book out and do things that under normal circumstances you wouldn't even think of. Now, as far as enemy combatants like former Hussein military in Iraq, no, they shouldn't be tortured. But those responsible for beheading our civilians, reporters or aide workers. You don't see the Arab world up in arms arguing for Americans human rights do you?
When was it written that the US has to abide by rules the rest of the world could push to the side? Since when did the US allow itself to be treated like eldest child that should know better?
"We've sent a message to the world that the United States is not like the terrorists," said Senator John McCain. "We have no brief for them. But what we are is a nation that upholds values and standards of behavior and treatment of all people no matter how evil or bad they are, and I think that this will help us enormously in wining the war for the hearts and minds of people throughout the world in the war on terror."
This would be true in a normal world. Unfortunately, this world is more fucked up than a Hollywood actress with low self-esteem. I would love to think the world would look upon America and think, "Hey, you know, that America country really has some strong values and standards that are admirable. Let's second guess our hatred for them and put down the explosive belts." It's not going to happen. All we're doing is limited our means to protect ourselves and innocent people anywhere where a terrorist might strike.
Maybe somebody would think twice about joining Al-Qaeda if we starting parading heads on spikes and having public burnings of militant bodies. Sounds harsh but they would do it to us in a heartbeat, they already have actually. Fair is fair.
President Bush has reached agreement with Republican Senators on a law barring the cruel or inhuman treatment of foreign detainees in U.S. custody. The Bush administration had originally threatened to veto the measure saying it weakened the president's ability to fight the war on terrorism.
Alright, here's my argument. I know many will disagree with me on this but lets be reasonable. Let's say there's an Al-Qaeda sleeper cell activated somewhere in the US. There are five members to this cell. We catch one. He doesn't want to talk to authorities. No matter how many times we say please or how many cookies we offer him, he remains tight-lipped. Now, in the meantime, the other four lunatics are planning to deteonate a nuclear weapon in your backyard. I really don't mind if we slowly remove each and every finger on his hand until he spills his guts. The end justifies the means in this case.
Now, I understand the argument that we would run the risk of torturing an innocent and that is why I present to you this. Let's take Khalid Shiekh Mohammad for example. Admitted Al-Qaeda terrorist. High ranking in the network. No question of his involvement in September 11th attack. Why do we care if the CIA is letting a Doberman chew on his genitals so we can avert any future attacks or maybe, dare I say, bring in other people responsible for September 11th, like, I don't know, Bin Laden or Zawahiri to justice? Shouldn't we agree that this gentleman forfeited his human rights when he participated in an act that violated over 3,000 peoples right not to be killed by a passenger plane.
As long as we play by rules that terrorist don't pay mind to, we will never win. Sometimes you have to play dirty. Protecting the country isn't a board game like Trival Pursuit. Sometimes you have to throw the rule book out and do things that under normal circumstances you wouldn't even think of. Now, as far as enemy combatants like former Hussein military in Iraq, no, they shouldn't be tortured. But those responsible for beheading our civilians, reporters or aide workers. You don't see the Arab world up in arms arguing for Americans human rights do you?
When was it written that the US has to abide by rules the rest of the world could push to the side? Since when did the US allow itself to be treated like eldest child that should know better?
"We've sent a message to the world that the United States is not like the terrorists," said Senator John McCain. "We have no brief for them. But what we are is a nation that upholds values and standards of behavior and treatment of all people no matter how evil or bad they are, and I think that this will help us enormously in wining the war for the hearts and minds of people throughout the world in the war on terror."
This would be true in a normal world. Unfortunately, this world is more fucked up than a Hollywood actress with low self-esteem. I would love to think the world would look upon America and think, "Hey, you know, that America country really has some strong values and standards that are admirable. Let's second guess our hatred for them and put down the explosive belts." It's not going to happen. All we're doing is limited our means to protect ourselves and innocent people anywhere where a terrorist might strike.
Maybe somebody would think twice about joining Al-Qaeda if we starting parading heads on spikes and having public burnings of militant bodies. Sounds harsh but they would do it to us in a heartbeat, they already have actually. Fair is fair.
posted by A Mad Man at 5:52 AM
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