"the term "torture" means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions. "
Well no matter how thin you slice it, it's still baloney as Will Rogers once said. Perhaps when the rest of the world sees torture as illegal, we might have a starting point to replace it with something else. It's perfectly clear that everyone is not in agreement.
At least 160 of the 195 nation-states in the world see torture as illegal.
Moreover, a broad spectrum of people whose job it is (or was) to interrogate prisoners assert torture is ineffective (unless, of course, the goal is to inflict suffering because "they deserve it").
It seems to me, given that the bulk of the rest of the wolrd does see it as illegal and more effective legal methods already exist, the only baloney being sliced here is your implicit defense of torture.
Not that I am condoning torture but I agree with you that it's "perfectly clear that everyone is not in agreement." The majority of the countries may agree that torture is illegal but it appears the majority still do it anyway.
In 2014, according to Amnesty International 141 countries still torture.
@Harry -- Yes, it is a terrible shame that some countries (including the United States) still employ torture.
The problem often (as it is in the United States) is the same people who are charged with upholding the law are the people who are doing the torturing, so they would have to arrest themselves.
Of course, most government entities are careful to only torture politically powerless people (e.g. F***ING HADJIS), and abuse of such people is usually popular among the politically powerful, so moral principles are sacrificed to naked power politics.
Or, even better, lets go back to being among the "good guys" who DON'T torture. Isn't gaining such moral standing in the world community worth something more than just getting our jollies off because some F***ING HADJI was drowned 130+ times?
I disagree with thee. You can't wait for everyone to agree on something before you do what is right driftwood. Terrorists will never comply with any rule or law or definition of anything. They do not value life. What do you do in YOUR life? Since you know people lie and cheat and steal and betray and murder does that give you license to do the same? Of course not. There is right and there is wrong and most sane people know the difference. The Donald is not sane. Thank you for your reply and Happy Friday! :)
This post was edited by RosieG at January 27, 2017 3:43 AM MST
Pearl 