Is torture ever justified during interrogation?

[bfez1]

What is your opinion?

[JQ Public]

No, because thats not what i believe America is about.

[Amanzi]

No!

I dont think torture can ever be justified in any way shape or form.

[Guest]

No, because it is demonstrated that who is under torture will tell anything, confirm anything, swear anything you want just to stop the pain.

[vbhoutex]

JohnQ said it all!!!!

[j]

I hate to go against the grain here....but....IF I had credible evidenced that the person to be intterogated was in posesssion of critical evidence such as the exact location of a hostage, an abducted child, hell..ANY innocent victim, then I personally would not have a problem using whatever means to extract that life saving information.

Let's put things in perspective here. Let's just suppose that one of the hijackers from 911 were in custody....all our intelligence information pointed to the extremely high probability that this individual had specific knowledge of the time and place of the imminent attacks. Lets take it one step further before you answer this. Your son, or daugter, or mother or father works at the World Trade Center. The information that you have been able to ascertain so far says that an attack will occur on these towers, but exact time is not known. Again, you are 99% sure, based on wire taps, serveillance, money trail...etc that this prisoner has a high probability of providing information that could not only save your loved one's life, but thousands more.

I would do everything short of actually killing this person to ascertain that information. Sorry..but that is just the way I feel.

[coriolis]

And there's a fine line about where to draw the line.
I'd assume that there's "guidance" somewhere.

How about:

Bad Food
Sleep deprivation
Constant badgering
Uncomfortable accommodations
Too hot/cold in cell
Bad odors in cell
Disinformation (your compatriots told us everything and blamed you)
Good cop/bad cop
Promises (we'll set you free if you tell us)
Constant darkness
Bright lights
Being stripped
Restraints
Physical intimidation

The list can go on....

Someone in Aladdan said it well. (paraphrasing) "You'd be amazed what you can live through."

[TexasStooge]

Mine is a "NO".

[vbhoutex]

J your point is a good one, but IMHO still incorrect for only one reason. PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU ANYTHING TO MAKE YOU STOP THE PAIN. The you have to go through the whole verification process to be sure it is accurate if it doesn't match your intel. If you had as much information as you stated in your hypothetical situation, you probably wouldn't need the person you were interrogating.

[j]

PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU ANYTHING TO MAKE YOU STOP THE PAIN.

I don't disagree with you on this point....100% agreed! but...I'm willing to take the chance that the information obtained could save an innocent life. If said prisoner gave the interrogator mis-information, and the innocents died, then what has been lost? If the information is correct and innocent lives have been spared, there is much to celebrate. And..I might add, the prisoner is still alive, perhaps only requiring minimal medical help. Again...I'm not in favor of torture to kill.

Also, as coriolis pointed out, there are many ways to "torture", many of which we legally use, but few that would yeild the results of a persons life dangling before them.

I know....this is highly simplified, but only to make a point.

[southerngale]

I hate to go against the grain here....but....IF I had credible evidenced that the person to be intterogated was in posesssion of critical evidence such as the exact location of a hostage, an abducted child, hell..ANY innocent victim, then I personally would not have a problem using whatever means to extract that life saving information.

Let's put things in perspective here. Let's just suppose that one of the hijackers from 911 were in custody....all our intelligence information pointed to the extremely high probability that this individual had specific knowledge of the time and place of the imminent attacks. Lets take it one step further before you answer this. Your son, or daugter, or mother or father works at the World Trade Center. The information that you have been able to ascertain so far says that an attack will occur on these towers, but exact time is not known. Again, you are 99% sure, based on wire taps, serveillance, money trail...etc that this prisoner has a high probability of providing information that could not only save your loved one's life, but thousands more.

I would do everything short of actually killing this person to ascertain that information. Sorry..but that is just the way I feel.

Maybe it's not right, but I tend to feel this way too. Hmmm, or maybe I've just seen too many 24 episodes...sure works for Jack Bauer.

[streetsoldier]

I wonder if using Janet Reno, dressed in a thong bikini to interrogate Saddam, would be considered "torture"?

[j]

I wonder if using Janet Reno, dressed in a thong bikini to interrogate Saddam, would be considered "torture"?

ewww...he might ask for electric shock if you gave him the choice!

[weatherluvr]

I wonder if using Janet Reno, dressed in a thong bikini to interrogate Saddam, would be considered "torture"?

I think making a post about Janet Reno in a thong could be considered torture!

[Rainband]

Depends on the situation. Great responses. I agree most with "j" we are in a different age now and maybe it's time for the rules to change. Sad but true IMHO

[stormchazer]

Tough call but also depends on what you might consider torture.

[Derek Ortt]

I dont care about our image, only our national security. Any methods to protect our security are justified