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Why Has America Regressed on the Matter of Torture?
Ronald Reagan, May 20, 1988, transmitting the Convention Against Torture to the Senate for ratification:
"The United States participated actively and effectively in the negotiation of the Convention. . . . Ratification of the Convention by the United States will clearly express United States opposition to torture, an abhorrent practice unfortunately still prevalent in the world today.
The core provisions of the Convention establish a regime for international cooperation in the criminal prosecution of torturers relying on so-called “universal jurisdiction.” Each State Party is required either to prosecute torturers who are found in its territory or to extradite them to other countries for prosecution. "
Convention Against Torture, signed and championed by Ronald Reagan, Article II/IV:
"No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat or war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture. . . Each State Party shall ensure that all acts of torture are offences under its criminal law."
Pew Poll, today:
Public opinion about the use of torture remains divided, though the share saying it can at least sometimes be justified has edged upward over the past year. Currently just over half of Americans say that the use of torture against suspected terrorists in order to gain important information can either often (19%) or sometimes (35%) be justified. This is the first time in over five years of Pew Research polling on this question that a majority has expressed these views. Another 16% say torture can rarely be justified, while 25% say it can never be justified.
http://www.nonesoblind.org/blog/?p=5157
To change the definition of torture to justify it is regression.
You're right. I should have typed "US"
5 Answers
- golgafrinchamLv 61 decade agoFavorite Answer
Why? I wish I knew. I think a lot of military folks weren't willing to stake their careers against Cheney, even thought they friggin' well should have. I was in the Marines in the 80s, a mere enlisted intel puke, and even in our training we were well versed in Geneva, and that torture wasn't even an option -- additionally, we were told that torture lowers the reliability of any intel we might get, so it was not to be used not just because it was forbidden, but because it ruined any chance of getting meaningful intel. And if a lowly non-rate enlisted puke got that training, then every SNCO on up should have had those basics, and they should have simply told Cheney (and, ostensibly, Bush) that torture is stupid and useless, a waste of manpower. But there must have been a great deal of fear in careers (because careers are apparently worth more than integrity...or other people's lives), and no one (except retired generals, and John McCain, the one thing for which I still respect him) had the cajones to just say "no."
I think the tide is turning...if slowly...
- Anonymous1 decade ago
It's perhaps cyclical. We did it in the Philippines during Teddy Roosevelt's administration as our leaders then thought only white aryans were the chosen race and all others were felt to be barbaric.
Roosevelt's Vice President, in the Philippines told the country that they wouldn't be able to self rule for probably 100 years or more.. You wonder how far we've really come since then.
- MIKE HAWKLv 71 decade ago
How have we regressed? Water Boarding is not Torture.
Over 70% of US citizens want the Christmas Undie-Bomber Water Boarded to get info on additional attacks against the USA.
Besides, the Geneva Conventions do not cover the enemy we are facing now. Al Qaida is not a Country.
- 1 decade ago
Oduma does not know everything that goes on in this or any other country,hes one man,no president has the time to access the knowledge.he would need to have complete control. the cia is not the only group that is kept out of the public eye and they do not answer to him
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- r1b1c*Lv 71 decade ago
You said America but I'm certain you meant the US
America = continent with 37 nations
The US of A = one of those nations
That said, most United Statesians opposed the vile actions of the Bush Administration in this regard.
