This morning I was listening to a local Chicago radio station, which was playing an interview with former U.S. Ambassador to the United nations, former Undersecretary of State for Arms Control, John Bolton. The discussion revolved around the demands by the U.S. Attorney General's Office for documents to shed light on the reported (and admitted) "enhanced interrogation techniques" applied by the C.I.A. to some confinees, accused of terrorism, and held outside the U.S. Bolton ignored the information that it was the Attorney General's Office seeking those documents; he accused President Obama, and the entire Obama Administration of attempted undermining, and adulteration of the mission of the C.I.A. and all it's agents.
President Obama has been steadfast in his drive to "Look forward", as opposed to seeking to place blame for incidents in the past. However the Office of the Attorney General may be required to investigate these particularly severe accusations of illegal treatment of military prisoners.
My assumption is that any human no matter how strong, brave, and dedicated, can be brought to say anything, to save unbearable pain, or threats to his family. If information can be extracted in a relatively short time, is the continued application of fear and pain justified? We must also question whether the application of torture is ever legal under our constitution, and our law.
It has been suggested that much of the information derived from the application of pain to these captives suspected of terrorism had already been divulged during more ordinary interrogation. Police and Federal investigators have been learning for decades how to extract information.
One of the noble principles upon which out nation was founded is that "All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights". Then how do we justify denying these rights to a segment of humanity, in the 21st Century world?
Here are some specifics:
In some instances suspected terrorists have been subjected to emotional turmoil — being told their children will die or are dead, this in conjunction with physical pain — long periods of forced standing, or of being strapped in unbearable positions. Consider the photos of Zacharias Mousauri, hooded, chained to a wall, with arms outstretched, akimbo. Consider in the same light the photos we have seen of another such suspect standing hooded, on a box, with wires attached to his hands and to his genitals.
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