I recently read an article at National Review Online concerning the morality and permissibility of torture and what has been called “enhanced interrogation.” Tough Questions

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YWM4YmM4ZDcyYWY2MzM5ZTk3ZTk1MjIxZjkxZDY3ODA=&w=MA==

The article was a series of pieces written by several people. As I was reading this article and before I finished I had a thought that was addressed in the next portion of the piece.

Liberals are currently demanding that heads roll for condoning the use of “torture.” While one person mentioned that the definition of what constitutes torture as defined by liberals is questionable.

For example, liberals while invoking the argument about the “morality” of torture don’t have a problem of the immorality of the killing of an unborn child; going so far as to desensitize the public (as well as their own conscience, if they have one) about the procedure, by euphemistically calling it “freedom of choice” while negating the choice of the unborn person’s choice of choosing life if given the opportunity to chose.

Essentially, the writers indicate that doing something that causes pain and mental distress, especially if it results in permanent physical or mental damage should be considered torture and should be avoided.

I am in basic agreement with this. I think that certain acts that are obviously acts of torture are morally wrong. I do however believe that certain occasions require the use of methods of interrogation that we would all consider repugnant. I am certain that I could not bring myself to personally utilize certain methods of interrogation but I for one am glad that there are people willing to do the dirty work that needs to be done.

How far can one go to elicit information from a person who has knowledge of a future act that will result in the deaths of many innocent people?

Since the use, methods and severity of enhanced interrogation procedures have been questioned I would like to address this issue. Let’s remember that the writers mentioned that inflicting permanent damage to body and psyche should be avoided.

To address this issue I would like to relate to you the case of a person I know who experienced treatment that many would consider torture and any permanent damage that may have resulted.

Without getting into the circumstances about how the person came to be in the position that resulted in the person being tortured I will describe a few specific types of torture used as they were relayed to me. If you have a weak constitution you may wish to stop reading now as some of the acts I will describe are graphic in nature.

For several years this person was subjected to mental abuse concerning his manhood and self worth. He was demeaned on a daily basis.

This person was frequently deprived of contact with persons other than his tormentor(s).

He was forced to perform menial and demeaning tasks on a daily basis. From his description I would describe the treatment as being extremely similar to the treatment Paul Newman’s character was subjected to in the movie Cool Hand Luke when Luke was forced to remove dirt from a “hole” and then required to refill the hole.

He was frequently whipped and then forced to display the wounds to his peers.

He was also denied of the use of toilet facilities until he could no longer control his bodily functions and soiled himself as his peers watched on.

During this time he was stripped and his nude body was whipped. On at least on occasion, his testicles were struck causing them to become swelled to “about the size of oranges.” The resulting swelling and discomfort lasted for several days. There was no let up on subsequent abuse.

After several years of this treatment, he was finally able to escape. Today, he is remarkably well adjusted. He stated to me that while he certainly would never desire to experience this torture again, he does not believe that he has suffered any permanent physical damage. He states that even though it took several years to do so he has overcome the mental anguish.

Another person I know who experienced several months of mental and physical abuse actually looks back on the experience with some humor, fondness and nostalgia. I will relate some of those experiences.

One of the first things this person experienced was to have his head shaved and he was de-loused. He was provided clothing that was designed to deprive him of his individuality. All the subsequent mistreatment was designed for effect of removing his individuality and break the person down mentally.

He was forced to walk or run long distances while carrying weight. In this case he was forced to carry objects whose combined weight was more than the person weighed.

He was forced on a daily basis to perform menial, demeaning tasks and to perform strenuous repetitious activities.

On a daily basis he was subjected to being questioned by a person who constantly yelled at him. The questions he was asked never had a correct answer which resulted in further torment.

As an example, he was told that it appeared that he had not shaved that day. When asked if he had shaved he answered in the affirmative. He was then asked if he was implying that his interrogator was a liar.

He was not allowed to speak unless spoken to and then in the most respectful and subservient manner.

He was punished when it was thought that he had committed an infraction of the rules, many of which weren’t known but made up at his tormentor’s whim.

To make matters worse, this torment was condoned by the federal government of the United States and inflicted by agents acting in behalf of the government. During the following years the government has seen fit to discontinue much of this abusive behavior.

I should mention that this second person is my father who experienced these acts of mental and physical abuse while he was in the United States Marine Corps.

I experienced much similar treatment during the time I was in the police academy.

In these cases we came away from all this with a sense of accomplishment and pride.

The point is that people can endure much physical and mental abuse with no lasting negative effects.

Therefore, who is qualified to determine what constitutes torture and what will cause inordinate temporary physical pain or mental anguish or permanent mental or physical damage?

If people can voluntarily endure mental and physical abuse that is much worse than that reportedly inflicted on people who have planned and carried out the murder of thousands of innocent people, certainly it would seem reasonable to use whatever “enhanced interrogation techniques” that are available to induce these same people to provide information that could be used to stop the killing of more innocent people.

If and when we suffer a similar attack will the current administration be asked why they didn’t act to stop it? Will they be asked why they didn’t “connect the dots?” Will they be accused of complicity if not the actual planning and implementation of such an attack?

Recommended reading:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZGIzZTEzMDcxZmNkMmQyMGE3OWEyZDIwY2YwNTBhYjE=

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MTZhZjVlMmJhYzBjMWJjZDVlMDk3ZjM0NGRiMTEwNjg=