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Accepting Torture as Reasonable Treatment

What is torture, torturer by definition given to the public from the United Nations,
'torture' means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is
intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person
information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is
suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any
reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the
instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an
official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental
to lawful sanctions (irct.org).
Torture is an international form of interrogation, from government to government;
consent to commit these inhumane acts is given for specific reasons. Torture can consist of
both mental and physical contributions, and is used to weaken a person(s) for vital information or
a confession. The methods of torture during interrogation should be accepted for the purposes of
obtaining information that would otherwise not be told willingly, set forth by the government.
The process of what happens while undergoing this treatment may be inhumane but it is for the
greater good of the mass public.
Methods of torture used by the CIA are rectal feeding and rehydration, where the
detainees food is pureed and then rectally infused. The confinement box, is when the
interrogator places the detainee in a box that restricts movement for a marked amount of time
(although many pass out so no record of time can be proven). The box is dark and is hard to
breathe in, they may also add insects inside. Detainees also go through wash boarding, where

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they are tilted upside down with a rag over their mouth and nose and water is poured over the
cloth for 40 seconds, simulating drowning. Other methods such as beatings and threats, stress
positions, and sleep deprivation are applied if needed. Mental methods consist of isolation,
humiliation, mock executions, mock amputations, and being witness to others tortured. It is said
that these leave the longest impression of psychological problems with victims. The CIA tries to
stay away from the word torture for what they do, and have noted they would prefer their
tactics of interrogation be known as enhanced interrogation techniques and rendition,
detention and interrogation program.
Torture occurs when terrorist or people with vital information or confessions are captured
and brought in for interrogation. Often used to punish, obtain information or confessions, or to
place fear into a specified group of people. The methods of torture are usually used in times of
war, but can be put into use when acts of terror are committed on innocent citizens. The use of
torture can be dated back to 530 AD, by the Greeks and was known as the highest form of truth.
Greek legal orator Demosthenes believed that no statements made as a result of torture have
ever been proved untrue (Camilla Green). Around the world there are CIA prisons and facilities
specifically designed for the torture of its occupants.
People who are tortured get appointed this treatment by people who hold a position of
power. Such as the president of a government, leaders of radical groups, and people of influence
(state authority). This is no mistake, these people have been chosen because of what they know
or because they have committed war crimes. Although steps to prevent torture are in place, a
countrys government is held responsible for any torture that occurs within the territorys
boundaries. This is a way to insure that governments arent allowing people to be treated harshly
or unjustly. Being a part of certain political, religious, and ethnic groups can also help keep you

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from the persecution of torture. Regulations have been put in place for the safety of the people.
The government tortures people who have committed acts of terror to the country or are tied to
leaders who have planned these attacks. Torture has also been used as a way to study the human
psyche and anatomy but these practices have been out of use publicly since medieval times.
The general population can also be deemed as a force that inflicts torture, in a civil war
situation. But the people to most likely do the actual torturing are prison officers, the police, the
military, and state-controlled contra-guerilla forces. Torture is outlawed and is deemed as an
infraction of international law. In 1984 the UN held a convention on torture and cruel, inhumane,
and degrading treatment that restricted countries from committing these acts to obtain
information or outsourcing into countries that allow these harsh treatments. Because of this
governments have been ineffective in with extracting information and it has led to mass acts of
terror. Even with this treaty signed by 74 countries including the United States there were still
ways around it so that governments could effectively extract information from the person(s)
accused. The United States has outlawed the practice from any U.S. citizen and has deemed it as
punishable by death if caught. But militaries allow some methods of interrogation that attack the
detainees pride, but not mentally attack them.
People are protected by these laws even prisoners of war, people of political power
follow strict guidelines not to cross the line of torture when interrogating its prisoners. Otherwise
if it is found that this law is broken it is considered a war crime and holds high ranking officials
responsible. After the attack on the United States September 11th, 2001 the Bush administration
disregarded these laws of the Geneva Convention and declared a war on terrorism.
To consider how to get around these limitations, a group of American attorneys created a
100-page document, referred to as the "Rumsfeld memo" by the Washington Post, which

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questioned the broad view of torture under international law [source: Washington Post]. This
document also suggests some defenses a torturer may take if prosecuted for torture. The group
concluded that the executive authority granted to the president of the United States and his role
as commander in chief of the armed forces grants him wide powers that supersede international
and domestic laws concerning torture (The Legality of Torture).
When setting forth this proclamation internationally no court or other international justice rulings
turned this down. This is due to the fact of information being misleading because of inadequate
interrogation methods. To make the UN council fully grasp why these harsh methods of
interrogation are need horrible acts of violence had to be carried out and it was too late. On the
grounds that it was done out of good faith and that only the President could grant these liberties
as commander and chief of the armed forces, torture for interrogation purposes was aloud.
Why should these acts be accepted? To protect the citizens of a country during war times,
vital information can be extracted from people of questioning that can save the lives of
thousands. When important information dealing with international affairs is at stake people will
withhold from sharing this information to insure certain acts are carried out. Unless governments
are able to use the necessary interrogation methods deemed as tortuous, terrorists will not
willingly give this information up. When holding people accountable for such acts like 9/11 or
the bombings in Paris there are people in place to protect their leaders. These people may carry
out these acts of terroism but in the end governments want the person who has planned these
attacks to be held responsible. Unless torture methods are used these leaders will be protected
and the terrorist acts will continue.
Many people believe that if allowing the government to torture people of other countries
for information believed to be vital is accepted, then other countries governments can begin

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capturing American citizens and doing the same. People who oppose torture fear it because of
how it has been used in the past to cruel leaders advantages. Some sources of torture come from
health professionals, legal professionals, co-detainees with authority of public officials, and
death squads. In the United States documentation of torture on minority groups like blacks,
Hispanics, Jews, and other ethinicites during the 19th and 20th century have been noted. Although
the government on a federal level wasnt a part of the injustice during this time, state authority
either turned a blind eye to it or helped commit these acts. Self-proclaimed leaders will impose
methods of torture to inforce power and also fear over mass groups. Anyone can be a victim of
torture, no matter the age, gender, religious belief, or social level. In this thought if people are
not terrorists or do not have any leading information to terrorist groups or people(s) accused of
war crimes then said people should have nothing to worry about. The power to grant this kind of
interrogation is held by country leaders, and can only be granted by that power otherwise any
person(s) acting outside of that are condemned to death for breaking international law.
The consequences of torture reach far beyond immediate pain. Many victims suffer from
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which includes symptoms such as flashbacks (or intrusive
thoughts), severe anxiety, insomnia, nightmares, depression and memory lapses. Torture victims
often feel guilt and shame, triggered by the humiliation they have endured. Many feel that they
have betrayed themselves or their friends and family. All such symptoms are normal human
responses to abnormal and inhuman treatment (Irct.org).
The after effects of torture victims if they survive or are released is felt for the rest of their lives.
Whether it be from the scars they have as constant reminders or just the simple flashback, this
kind of treatment leaves a long-lasting effect on its victims that is felt long after its happened.
Victims of torture are either released, remain in prison for their crimes, or die from the

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interrogation. If released it is a symbol to any others who plot against citizens, that any inhumane
acts carried out will be met with the punishment of enhanced interrogation techniques to either
get a confession or send a message. If people agree with this kind of treatment or not, ones life
does not outweigh the lives of thousands of innocent citizens. If a person is withholding
information that can lead to the safety of citizens or capture of a radical leader, it is the
responsibility of the government to protect the people it serves by any means.