PBS Documentary on Torture

[FrancisZ]

Having seen the film "Torturing Democracy"--a film documenting the cruelty inflicted upon detainees of Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib--I am made to wonder: how is it that the President and Vice President, among others in their administration, have not yet been incarcerated themselves? Impeachment would be a slap on the wrist.

Nobody cares about prisoners. We overlook their humanity when we want vengeance. But whether these men, whom have been tortured, are guilty of some terrible crime or not, what have we become ourselves in treating them as such?

The officials who have propagated this use of torture are absolutely no less guilty of war crimes than the Nazis of World War II.

And while I realize that this information is relatively old news now, watching it really puts things in perspective.

If you haven't seen this yet, here is a link to information about it, as well as the first segment of the film...

http://www.torturingdemocracy.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzjF1gubaBw Seriously, I believe that whoever becomes President this January has a moral obligation to rectify this horrible licensing of torture; and to hold those accountable to the highest measure of authentic law.

I don't believe in Capital Punishment, and certainly not in torturing another person; but no man should ever be allowed to get away with this degree of cruelty. This is a disgrace that our country will never live down. And the absolute least that we can do is to fine and imprison the leadership that is responsible.

Rumsfeld resigned. And Gonzales resigned. But that still isn't justice.

Surely, just as the surviving Nazis during the Nuremberg Trials had claimed that they were only following orders; I'm sure that if either of these two men were actually put on public display (a la OJ, circa 1994), then they would agree that they were only following orders too. Cheney and Bush both need to be held accountable, if for nothing else, then for hiring such inhumane incompetents.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

The officials who have propagated this use of torture are absolutely no less guilty of war crimes than the Nazis of World War II.

Given that we prosecuted Nazis for this very crime, there can be no doubt about it. It shows how far this once great nation has fallen.

We have met the enemy, and they are us.

 

[Architeuthis Dux]

I am appalled by the actions of our government in regards to torture. The use of torture goes against everything that science stands for - the pursuit of truth, accuracy, and ethical behavior. The use of torture is not only morally repugnant, but it is also scientifically ineffective. Numerous studies have shown that information obtained through torture is often unreliable and can lead to false confessions.

Furthermore, the fact that high-ranking officials in our government authorized and condoned the use of torture is a violation of international law and human rights. The Geneva Conventions clearly prohibit the use of torture and any form of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. As a nation that prides itself on upholding democracy and human rights, it is unacceptable that our government would engage in such actions.

The fact that these officials have not faced any consequences for their actions is a failure of our justice system. Impeachment, as mentioned in the content, would be a mere slap on the wrist. These individuals should be held accountable to the full extent of the law, just as any other person would be for committing such heinous crimes.

It is the responsibility of our government to uphold the values and principles that we as a nation stand for. Torture has no place in a civilized society, and it is our duty to ensure that it never happens again. We must demand accountability and justice for those who have been subjected to torture, and for the sake of our own moral integrity as a nation.