Bill Sykes' Newsletter
from America.
(October 2002)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
Medieval torture!!!
In a recent magazine type TV program, the question of whether
the torture of prisoners, (or as the United States refers
to them, ”Detainees”), who were being held been
for questioning with respect to their knowledge of known
terrorist groups, in order to obtain information from them
was discussed.
 One
noted Harvard professor/lawyer and legal scholar appeared
to be in favor of torture of any individual who could provide
information that would save lives or prevent terrorist actions.
On the opposite side of the table, a civil rights activist
defended the rights of any individual from being incarcerated
for long periods of time without charges being brought and
without the services of a lawyer to defend that person under
the Miranda law. (The right to remain silent—the right
to have a lawyer present at any questioning, etc.)
The mode of torture, such as the attachment of electrodes
to various parts of the body was discussed and the tight
wrapping of a wet towel around the mouth and nostrils of
the individual being questioned so that the individual was
slowly being suffocated was also discussed.
 Of
course there is the Truth Drug Serum---the debaters were
of the opinion that the truth drugs really don’t work.
Perhaps the “Cat o’ Nine tails” and the
medieval rack, where the individual’s arms and legs
were pulled out of their sockets, should be considered---why
not go the whole hog.
The question arose as to if we resorted to such barbaric
tactics could we be classified in the same evil category
as the terrorists we were torturing.
Does this remind anyone of the bad old days of Genghis Khan,
Hitler’s Gestapo, and the dreaded KGB, to name but
a few of our past torture experts.
Well, what do you think???
There has to be opinions out there!!!
|
