Bush’s veto set to re-open waterboarding debate
Democrats, start your engines. Get ready, set, shift your frame. With President Bush set to veto H.R. 2082, the intelligence-activities bill (which Rep. Kuhl voted against as well), the issue of waterboarding as a torture device debate will be re-opened. With Kuhl running for re-election, this veto could have local implications. For those who believe torture provides reliable evidence Democrats need to re-frame the argument.
This issue goes to the politics of fear. It inserts emotion in place of actual facts. Studies have shown that torture methods offer no more reliable evidence from suspects than other methods because, once torture begins, subjects will say anything to get the torture to stop. This leads investigators to chase false leads which wastes resources and time that could be spent actually making progress. This article in The Good Democrat is an excellent overview:
First, it is impossible for interrogators to know with any reasonable degree of certainty that a suspect possesses information about the threat.
Second, licensing torture would undoubtedly encourage its abuse, since the legal and moral stigma attaching to torture is removed.
Third, torturing anyone who may have information, and not just wrongdoers, casts collective suspicion on whole groups of people, such as the family, friends and colleagues of a suspect, who may happen to know something about the threat. There is no clear limit to the range of people who could be exposed to torture.
Fourth, if torturing terrorists aims to protect public safety, it is hard to see why other threats should not be combated by torture. Why not torture those planning genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, murder or rape, even a child kidnapper, as well as those who might know of others planning such crimes? Again, there is no obvious limit to torture once the door to it is opened.
Fifth, torture does not work.
Finally, torture corrupts our institutions and professions. Requiring interrogators to torture degrades and brutalizes them as human beings, and society cannot demand this of them.
The evidence is overwhelming that torture-derived information doesn’t work. But perhaps Republicans aren’t interested in progress. Instead, they seem to be interested in the patriotic soundbyte, regardless of the truth.
Why does Bush want to keep waterboarding on as an interrogation device? He knows it doesn’t produce reliable results but it sure makes him sound ruthless. Playing tough but not getting results is something he’s kind of good at. Kuhl seems to be studying Bush’s playbook.
Related posts:
I posted something ablout this on ROCMen, and on the Pax Christi Rochester blog (http://paxchristirochester.blogspot.com/) (I’m no longer the Gates blogger, so can’t do anything there)
I live in Kuhl’s district and plan to contact his office asking him to vote for an overridde.
bush is a war criminal
Why are you no longer the Gates blogger Lee?
The Gates blog took a lot of time and energy - researching, going to events and meetings, writing, responding, etc. I decided to move on. I’m just working on other things.
Good to know it was your choice Lee. Best wishes for continued good success. You do a fine job in your reporting - let’s hope your voice finds a new home soon!