D. Armenta
PlagmanOpinion poll: Is President Obama right to suppress torture pictures?
I don't know any Americans who agree with our president's assessment that releasing the hundreds of torture photos uncovered in the congressional investigation "puts our troops in danger". Maybe some will pop up in this poll.
This is the old "locking the barn door after the horse was stolen" reasoning used by our last president. The gratuitous reference to "our troops" in a blatantly Bushian attempt to arouse our not-so-warm-and-fuzzy-anymore feelings of "patriotism" comes straight out of the last regime's book of bullshit justifications..pretty unsettling for a guy who campaigned on a "transparency in government" platform, no?
I mean, you'd have to be living in another galaxy to be unaware that torture was practiced by Americans at Abu Graib; we've got plenty of photos of that. The whole world knows it happened. So...more photos are suddenly going to piss Middle Eastern people off?
Got news for you, Mr. President: they're already pissed off. A couple more pictures of the worst, most shameful moment in American history isn't going to make a difference, know what I mean? They're already on to us. Time to step up, admit our colossal trashing of one of the most integral values America has held since its birth as a nation, and come clean.
There's also the question of Federal law; under the Freedom of Information Act (bless you, Ralph Nader) the government is required to release this evidence to the public.
Double standards, anyone?
So...unlike our U.S. media, I'm interested in hearing opinions from all over.
Should president Obama release those photos, folks?
I'll leave you to it with this hilarious pic from the magazine after my own heart: the Buffalo Beast. A brutally honest, offensive to the humorless mag with no agendas and no slant.
This is the old "locking the barn door after the horse was stolen" reasoning used by our last president. The gratuitous reference to "our troops" in a blatantly Bushian attempt to arouse our not-so-warm-and-fuzzy-anymore feelings of "patriotism" comes straight out of the last regime's book of bullshit justifications..pretty unsettling for a guy who campaigned on a "transparency in government" platform, no?
I mean, you'd have to be living in another galaxy to be unaware that torture was practiced by Americans at Abu Graib; we've got plenty of photos of that. The whole world knows it happened. So...more photos are suddenly going to piss Middle Eastern people off?
Got news for you, Mr. President: they're already pissed off. A couple more pictures of the worst, most shameful moment in American history isn't going to make a difference, know what I mean? They're already on to us. Time to step up, admit our colossal trashing of one of the most integral values America has held since its birth as a nation, and come clean.
There's also the question of Federal law; under the Freedom of Information Act (bless you, Ralph Nader) the government is required to release this evidence to the public.
Double standards, anyone?
So...unlike our U.S. media, I'm interested in hearing opinions from all over.
Should president Obama release those photos, folks?
I'll leave you to it with this hilarious pic from the magazine after my own heart: the Buffalo Beast. A brutally honest, offensive to the humorless mag with no agendas and no slant.
American media captured by the Buffalo Beast
Is Why
And, if they lied, it may just introduce a little concern into the terrorists psyche.
Should that not work, we can always threaten to put them into a cage with Pelosi for a week, they'd spill their guts after the first hour or two; I sure would.
Yet I am far more concerned that no one is going to be charged.
And so the problem is pushed onto another generation.
Where as if all the correct people were charged then it may diffuse a lot of future anger.
Obama or Bush. I do not see the difference.
Is Why
Film & TV on DVD
Increasing awareness of what was done is of paramount importance in my mind. The fact that torture seldom gleans the desired results leaves me bewildered that it was even employed to begin with....unless we wanted to sink lower than those we label "enemies of freedom"
Is Why
Let's see scaring the crap out of someone, or sic, humiliating them vs:
Beating someone to death-
Electrical shocks until it creates abscesses-
Injecting people with feces and urine-
Injecting people with industrial chemicals-
Cutting off limbs, heads-
Burning flesh with blowtorches-
Killing family members in front of them-
Crushing limbs and breaking bones-
Denying medical treatment, food, water.
These are some of the torture methods that terrorists use. They will use the methods that frighten them the most. And in many cases, it isn't about gathering information, it is about instilling fear.
Our methods are among the least 'torturous' methods in the world.
The Florida Keys and Everglades
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What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
Americans don't torture--we used to be able to say that with justifiable pride.
Is Why
However you're incorrect stating that Americans haven't used torture; public whippings, keel hauling or stockades are forms of torture, and were used against our citizens, soldiers and sailors.
Blacks were sold as chattel, raped, beaten, enslaved and systemically brainwashed.
First Nations people experienced that and much, much more, including genocide.
Because I am aware of these things and far more, I can't side with you on this matter.
D.
Is Why
Film & TV on DVD
My response to your comment was going to be similar to D Armenta's.
We are meant to lead by example. If we are fighting for freedom, democracy and human rights then torture goes against all the ideals our society is based on.
Once we sink to the level of our enemies we have lost everything. (Saying lesser "torture' to me sounds like lesser "rapist", or lesser "murderer")
I would be perhaps more open to debate if torture actually worked but throughout history it has proven to fail far more often than succeed.
..further evidence of my afore-mentioned credo: the only difference I see in people is whether they are assholes or non-assholes.
D. Armenta
..further evidence of my afore-mentioned credo: the only difference I see in people is whether they are assholes or non-assholes.
D. Armenta