A friend's blog quoted this headline from Democracynow.org. I want to scream!
Report: Bush Wants to Retain Controversial Interrogation Techniques
New details have been revealed on the Republican divide over the Bush administration’s plan for the treatment of prisoners in US custody. Newsweek magazine reports the administration wants to maintain at least seven existing CIA interrogation techniques for use against high-level detainees. The techniques include induced hypothermia; long periods of forced standing; sleep deprivation and so called “attention slapping.” The administration is facing resistance from three key Republican Senators on the Armed Services Committee, including John McCain of Arizona. The three helped pass a measure last week affirming Common Article Three of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits inhumane treatment.
hmmmm. That's a lot of fuss over the treatment of people trying to kill me. Althought they are more likely to directly affect my husband. Let's look at the charges of "inhumane treatment"....
"High-level detainees"~These are not just some joe shmoe we pulled off the street. These are terrorists, serious offenders who have information that could hurt us. We won't get a lick of info by saying "please". We need more motivating factors to break down their ability to fight us.
None of these techniques is life threatening or will cause permanent damage. It comes back to "If a soldier puts up with it....then it ain't torture".
Hypothermia- 8 hours of unrelieved guard duty in the snow anyone? Yeah, that sounds familiar. Is it fun? no. Is it torture? also no. If you dont' loose a limb, quit whining.
Long periods of forced standing-Parade/Ceremony practice.....usually at least one full 8 hour day, sometimes more, spent standing in the hot sun and/or rain to make some general feel good when he retires. Soldiers pass out so regularly that backups wait by ambulances to fill in the gaps when a soldier falls out. So, once again, quit whining.
Sleep deprivation~Parenthood aside, there are times when I have been required to stay away to accomplish a mission for extended periods...48 hours isn't even the worst I've seen. Interns are subjected to long days that last 3 days. The so called “attention slapping" is a good way to wake up, huh? Quit bitching!
We aren't discussing hot pokers, pulling hair out, cutting, burning, stretching, rubbing them with pig's blood or forcing them to fight to the death for our amusement. They WANT TO KILL US. We need to stop them by whatever means needed. And if that means breaking thier spirit and not treating them like princesses, then so be it.
If ANY soldier at ANY time has been asked to serve their country and suffered through hardships......it ain't torture! So, no bed? no A/C? boring diet? lack of sleep? getting yelled at? Standing at attention for hours? all I have to say is Quit Whining!
*And this is coming from an Army perspective...Marines and SF suffer a LOT worse than I ever have."