Summary: Is Torture Effective When Countering Terrorism

To begin, the US and it’s central intelligence agency, also known as the CIA are torturing captives, and it’s up for debate. The US should allow the CIA to torture its prisoners. It’s a way to get very valuable information from them. The torture techniques leave no marks or traces left behind on the victim. It strikes fear in the to be tortured prisoners so that they make talk before the CIA even lays a finger on them. It is very difficult to get dangerous people to talk, so we use dangerous methods to get them to talk.

2016). Using this ethical framework to argue against torture, one needs to consider the violation of the terrorist’s rights. Utilitarians argue that under a scenario where thousands of people are in danger, the well-being of the larger community is more important than neglecting the rights of a single individual (Krauthammer 2005). The simple idea of taking away a person’s autonomy for the sake of others violates rights ethics. To comprehend the violation upon the victim’s rights, it is important to understand how torture feels, “Brian describes his body as having become an object… pain is the central reality; it dominates experience and expression (Wisnewski 2010, 81).” Some may argue the terrorist is responsible for putting himself in a situation where torture would be the only answer (Mayerfeld 2008). This argument undermines the terrorist’s perspective. Ultimately, the terrorists believe what they are doing is right and have concrete reasoning for their actions (Mayerfeld

Applebaum has plenty of evidence to back up her claim that physical torture is not effective, and there are many other ways to obtain information. While the fear-encouraging and questioning elements are potent to many who are afraid of terror committed against them, but when the overwhelming sentiment of Levin’s argument is being compared to the logic and ethical points of Applebaum it is clear to see the superiority of her argument. Although Levin would advocate for physical torture in extreme situations, one must expect extreme consequences. Physical torture is rarely effective, violates rights, and damages a whole nation’s credibility. This is why physical torture should not be

In Michael Levin's The Case for Torture, Levin provides an argument in which he discusses the significance of inflicting torture to perpetrators as a way of punishment. In his argument, he dispenses a critical approach into what he believes justifies torture in certain situations. Torture is assumed to be banned in our culture and the thought of it takes society back to the brutal ages. He argues that societies that are enlightened reject torture and the authoritative figure that engage in its application risk the displeasure of the United States. In his perspective, he provides instances in which wrongdoers put the lives of innocent people at risk and discusses the aspect of death and idealism. The author believes that the thoughts of enlightened societies are unwise and ascertains that there are situations whereby torture becomes morally mandatory in dealing with terrorists.

Now simply put, the US needs the NSA, as they are one of the few possibly effective anti-terrorist methods today. Political commentator Marc A. Thiessen claimed that there are only three methods in the modern age to combat and prevent terrorism: Interrogation, Penetration, and Signals intelligence. As for interrogation, Executive Order 13491 of 2009 prohibits inhumane, but effective methods of interrogation. Also, a living and breakable subject must be

Thus, it is a type of torture that the government uses to get information from terrorists. This means the CIA is using physical and mental torture to get the information. There are thirteen enhanced interrogation techniques, but the CIA uses four of them most of the time. The first is waterboarding, which is when agents tie a detainee to a bench and then pour water on his or her face. The second technique is sleep deprivation, which is when the detainee is kept awake standing up or in a painful position for 100–180 hours. The third technique is nudity. With this method, the detainee is forced to stand naked for a long time. The fourth technique is slaps followed by insults. This short overview shows how cruel enhanced interrogation

In Michael Levin’s “The Case for Torture”, he uses many cases of emotional appeal to persuade the reader that torture is necessary in extreme cases. There are many terms/statements that stick with the reader throughout the essay so that they will have more attachment to what is being said. Levin is particularly leaning to an audience based in the United States because he uses an allusion to reference an event that happened within the states and will better relate to the people that were impacted by it. The emotional appeals used in this essay are used for the purpose of persuading the reader to agree that in extreme instances torture is necessary and the United States should begin considering it as a tactic for future cases of extremity.

What ethical arguments are being made? Torture is okay to use. Torture is wrong. Torture should be okay in some circumstances

In the United States came under attack for depriving terrorists of human and constitutional rights. These non-citizens should be protected under international human right laws, however just as in 1942, the united states uses the grounds of protecting national security as justification for their actions. Many Americans agree that terrorist should be tortured for information, as they pose a threat to national security, however this view is not held worldwide. Torture of these captives goes against international humanitarian efforts. "In its treatment of the detainees at Guantanamo, (the United States) has been unwilling to fully apply international humanitarian law ... [and] has flouted international human rights standards (Lapkin 11) ". There is also concern raised over the fact that those who are remain in jail for many years no longer have pertinent information and therefore no longer pose an immediate threat. The treatment of japenese detainess whop refused to renounce their japense citizenship, and as such were deemed disloyal to the united states, increased the support of extreme measures Then, as now, United States government is much less reluctant to suppress the humanitarian rights of those who are

Schiemann, John W. "Interrogational Torture: Or How Good Guys Get Bad Information With Ugly Methods." Political Research Quarterly 65.1 (2012): 3-19. Academic Search Complete. Web. 08 Feb. 2016. This source explains that torture is actually one of the last methods used when they are interrogating someone since many know that it has a very low success rate. If the person is not willing to cooperate, they go down a list. Many people thought to use the top methods as they are not as immoral. Getting to the end of the list thought means they have nothing else to make the person talk which is why they use

Torture is the action of willingly hurting a person psychologically or physically. The use of torture by individuals, groups, and authorities has been going on from ancient times until today. In the 4th Century, voices started being raised against the use of torture. In fact, well-known philosopher and scientist, Aristotle, revealed the downfalls of torture, “those under compulsion are as likely to give false evidence as true, some being ready to endure everything rather than tell the truth, while others are really ready to make false charges against others, in the hope of being sooner released from torture”. In order to prevent further terrorist attacks, the CIA had to practice unethical questioning methods such as psychological techniques, sensory bombardment consisting of subjecting the tortured to continuous extremely

There are many interpretations of what torture is and how something can be classified as torture. In “Believe Me It’s Torture” Christopher Hitchens talks about the United States and its various uses of interrogation tactics to get Important information from suspected terrorists. In the article the author often brings up the waterboarding tactic that is often used and how there is a large controversy over whether it is in fact torture or if it is just simply harmless. The article states, “waterboarding was something that Americans did to other Americans, it was inflicted upon and endured by the Special Forces in a form of training called S.E.R.E (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) so that they could build up a resistance to it so that they

Before reading 1984, I disagreed with number four “Torture of a person who is a threat to our country’s freedom is acceptable as long the person does not die.” After reading the book, it has persuaded me to changed my mind to think otherwise. O’Brien says “There are three stages in your reintegration” (O’Brien 215). If a person is a threat to them then they can torture to get the answers because as long as what they are doing is not said they are still a threat to them. “You must understand the construction of this cage. The mask will fit over your head, leaving no exit” (Orwell 235). This is another reason that torture is good unless someone dies because they thought that Winston was a big threat and that if he was to revolt against the party

Social movements emerge from the unrepresented - the oppressed. I understand that social change and progression for countries with conservative views or who have hostile dictatorships don’t occur if the people aren’t united or willing to put their actions, ideals, into practice: praxis. In the novel, House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende illustrates how it was the ambition of the each new generation and their need to fight for their rights that caused a new way of living: being a believer in socialism, an active member in the guerrilla movement, or a liberal “radical” thinker. Reading this emotionally compelling novel helped me to understand the class readings a little better because I felt as if I was the one experiencing the inequalities, cruelties, and injustices’ Latin American people, especially women, faced in order for future generations to persevere through the violence and political corruption bulleted at them which allowed me to understand what the people from past readings felt in terms of these issues.

    Some people say that torture can save lives. If you sacrifice one life you could save hundreds or thousands of lives. Torture does not guarantee accurate information. The person who is being tortured will only say what the person who is torturing them wants to hear so the pain will stop. The success rate for the U.S. torturing a terrorist is only 53%. That is not where it should be because the other 47% of the time when torturing a terrorist,