How is this not torture?

[Tim4319]

I thought there were different forms of torture. Like mental, or psychological. But, according to the repugs, this is just a prank, hazing, or they troops were just "letting of some steam". To me, those detainees were tortured! They were told, if they don't do certain things they will die. That, to me, is torture!

[corporatewhore]

1. not just physical but to break them mentally

[Tim4319]

6. Which I think is far worse in most cases.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

2. your error is that

you are expecting sensitivity from the pukes.

[bobbieinok]

4. which is less likely for repubs - sensitivity or sense???

[Tim4319]

7. True! I am expecting a little too much.

[Caution]

3. it's a prank if the end result

is a known quantity that is positive "ie we'll all drink a bunch of beer and have a laugh about this later"

it's torture when you are being held against your will and subjected to various unpleasant things with the consequence of not participating being an unknown potentially lethal response.

this was torture plain and simple and anyone who says otherwise is being dishonest to both themselves and to whomever they say it to.

tr.v. tor·tured, tor·tur·ing, tor·tures

1. To subject (a person or an animal) to torture.
2. To bring great physical or mental pain upon (another).

Especially, as punishment for a crime, or for the purpose of extorting a confession from an accused person.

[yardwork]

5. The Republican apologists for this disagree with their president.

Bush* has called them abhorrent, sick to his stomach, etc.

Kind of takes the wind out of the sails of those who say it's no big deal, right?

[IronLionZion]

8. time to "haze" some Republicans

I think we need to "let off some steam" because this administration causes so much stress. Let's see how they handle the nude gay stuff.

[Mandate My Ass]

9. an email excerpt from someone living in UAE

United Arab Emirates. REad it and weep:

This brings us to the most recent and horrifying news. I do not know how the torture and humilation of Iraqi prisoners has played in the US. I was disturbed when I looked at Netscapes news and found Micheal
Jackson's trial as the number one story and number two being something about the US economy.

In this part of the world, the absolutely abhorent acts performed by US soldiers is being aired day and night on TV. It is in every major newspaper-front-middle and back. Tomorrow is the Profet Mohammed's Birthday. The utterly sick acts performed by the American soldiers couldn't be more culturally or religiously heinous. From a devout Arab Muslem's point of view, it would play far better if the troops had lined the Iraqi prisoners and executed them Nazi style.

For an Arab man to be publicly stripped naked and intertwined with other Arab men and to be publicly viewed naked and humilitated by women soldiers could not be possibly be worse. Having an Iraqi soldier stand naked while being threatened with electricution? Those poor Iraqi men will never be able to be regain there place in Iraq society. It may or may not be difficult for the average American to get into an Arab Muslem's frame of mind...But, this type of torture and humilation is considered worse here that what Saddam used to do.

[riverwalker]

10. of course it's torture

and we don't have pictures of the worst atrocities, the people beaten or tortured to death at Abu Ghraib.
These books are extremely helpful when asking "why" some can be so cruel.
"People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil" by M. Scott Peck
"Denial of Death" by Ernest Becker

[Toucano]

11. If the Repugs were

forced to simulate homosexual acts I wonder if they'd call it torture?

They consider a blown kiss from someone of the same sex grounds for murder, don't they? Remember the "Gay Panic" wave from the 90's?

[trof]

12. And the Gestapo was just a bunch of youngsters

letting off steam.
right