Report Inappropriate Comments

This article accurately captures a contentious issue which wears on the conscience of American society as a whole. However, as it concerns CIA interrogation, I believe the author is missing an ever prevalent sentiment held by many Americans which calls for a deeper understanding. Today, the American citizen finds him or herself living in a dangerous world plagued by extremists who seek to frivolously kill innocent civilians by utilizing unfathomable, and often undetectable, methods. For many, hijacked planes and exploding bombs on crowded street corners are more than just horrifying news stories broadcast throughout the world but rather a personal turmoil spurring a yearning for protection and a dire sense of urgency, especially if these atrocities take place at home – on American soil. I agree with the author’s depiction of these “interrogation techniques” as nothing other than torture in every sense of the word. I also agree that the current practice of imprisoning suspected terrorist without due process of law is not only illegal but a noticeable tear in our nation’s moral fabric, ultimately diminishing the credibility our government claims to hold. On the other hand, these acts of torture at the hands of the American government are not inflicted for the sake of entertainment, for the purpose of retribution, or as punishment for misdemeanor transgressions. Such a comparison fails to account for the acts of violence targeting American civilians which sadly have occurred within the birth of the 21st century. This carnage has created an “us versus them” mentality, perceivably making the torture of suspected terrorists a more acceptable practice in an effort to obtain information concerning planned future attacks on our nation. Although many Americans harbor a misguided belief that torture is an effective method in achieving this end, one cannot disregard the heinous reality of the perilous world we live in – that which ultimately drives us to compromise ideals for the safety of our family, our loved ones, and ultimately our citizenry in its entirety. Without condoning torture in any way, shape, or form, one cannot examine the injustice behind the practice without recognizing the context in which it is taking place.