Just What Does U.S. Get as Consequence of Torture? (excellent summary)

[Triana]

by Gregory D. Foster

Washington -- In confronting the subject of torture, we gain nothing then by asking whether it works. Rather, we should concentrate on its likely consequences - its strategic, political, institutional and ethical consequences. Here are some of the big questions we ought to be asking:


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Does torture enhance U.S. credibility, legitimacy and influence abroad, or does it accentuate our hypocrisy, arrogance and moral bankruptcy

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Does it support the larger strategic aims of defeating terrorism, curbing militarism and spreading democracy, or does it exacerbate terrorism and thereby inevitably provoke countervailing militaristic, anti-democratic response?

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Does it exemplify the leadership expected of the world's self-proclaimed only superpower, or is it a shameful capitulation to base norms of behavior set by our vilest, most despotic adversaries?

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...MUCH more...

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1110-24.htm