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There's never an excuse for torture
By: KATHI ANDERSON - Commentary | ∞
Torture is always wrong. There is no excuse for any person, organization or government to torture ---- anytime, anywhere.
Monday night at the University of San Diego, UC Berkeley law professor John Yoo might try to convince you otherwise. While serving in the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice, Yoo co-authored the documents now known as "the torture memos."
Those memos defined government-sponsored torture to include only abuse that would rise "to the level of death, organ failure, or the permanent impairment of a significant body function." These memos paved the way for the widespread use of torture by U.S. forces, as dramatically revealed at Abu Ghraib.
For 10 years, Survivors of Torture, International has served survivors of politically motivated torture living in San Diego County. An estimated 11,000 survivors live in our county, and approximately 500,000 nationwide. Most came as refugees or asylum-seekers, fleeing brutal dictators, genocides and persecution for their political activity, ethnicity or religion.
The individuals we serve have undergone horrific torture, both physical and psychological, but much that would not be classified as torture under Yoo's definition. The consequences are not organ failure or death, but rather a lifetime of terrifying nightmares, disabling depression and chronic pain.
Much expert opinion argues that torture is not only extremely debilitating, but also an ineffective means of extracting information. People will say anything to make the torture stop.
Torture continues to be widespread in at least 70 countries. It is terrifying to see our own government endorsing practices that are clearly considered torture under accepted international definitions. This policy undermines our credibility in promoting human rights and raises the risk of torture to our own military forces in the event of capture.
There is another side to this picture.
In 1998, Congress authorized the Torture Victims Relief Act, which states that "the American people abhor torture by any government or person. The existence of torture creates a climate of fear and international insecurity that affects all people."
In its best traditions, the United States stands as a beacon of hope and democracy. Torture survivors make their way to San Diego County, to communities like Encinitas, Solana Beach and San Marcos, because they are safe places. As American residents, they can live their lives free from the police forces, militias and others who inflicted the torture on them.
It's time for the United States to rededicate to its role as a safe haven for survivors, not as a perpetrator of human rights abuses. Torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo does not help. Redefining torture does not help.
John Yoo will speak at the University of San Diego's Institute for Peace and Justice at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Please join Survivors of Torture, International, and other concerned organizations in a candlelight vigil at 5 p.m. outside the hall, where we will recognize the worth and human dignity of torture survivors living around the world.
Kathi Anderson is the executive director for Survivors of Torture, International, a San Diego-based nonprofit that advocates for an end to torture and works with torture survivors.
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Reardon wrote on Feb 10, 2007 10:06 PM:I am not certain what constitutes "widespread us of torture." 20 cases? 200 cases? 200,000 cases? What I have seen from Abu Grahib, at least that which was published, was less torture than fraternity hazing, and far less than Plebe Year at the Service Academies. No doubt some torture did exist, somewhere, at some time -- some people were even tried and convicted of torture -- but nowhere is there any published evidence of "widespread" abuse. While overstating the case may give rational for the existence of Survivors of Torture condemning the United States, torture of hundreds a week takes place in Iraq by Iraqi upon Iraqi. Better she and her opponents of torture should travel to Baghdad and talk with the real participants of torture. She will find little actual torture practiced by John Yoo on the USD campus.
Mary wrote on Feb 11, 2007 1:39 AM:It is easy to see through this appeal. It is a bogus logic to put down our way of life. The US is the most humane in the world. Why did I not see a commentary by Kathi when there were beheadings?
Randy wrote on Feb 11, 2007 4:28 AM:The U.S. does not like to get its hands dirty. It appreciates the results of torture, but also tries to publicly distance itself from it. To satisfy these two irreconcilable bedrock principles, we subcontract our torture to third-world countries. We abhor torture, according to our public policy, yet we simultaneously enjoy all its fruit!
Citizen Sane wrote on Feb 11, 2007 10:21 AM:Reardon, stop the Rush Limbaugh repeats. The torture was not less than fraternity hazing-- you think waterboarding is less than hazing?! Read the case trials, see what was talked about, also read other stories and find out that not just Abu Grahib was involved in this plot. I commend our soldiers that have stood up and told the truth. These are our true heroes. You and other ostriches (head in the sand types) need to open your ears and eyes to the truth. Torturing imprisoned folks does not help our cause in bringing about the peace. Instead, it hurts our cause. Wake up!
Hal D wrote on Feb 11, 2007 1:39 PM:In the third paragraph of the piece it appears that "exclude" was intended, not "include." Those more hideous forms of torture were certainly excluded. All of this brings up the age old question of "does the end justify the means?" For example if it were known for sure that a certain terrorist in custody could prevent the detonation of a hidden H Bomb set to destroy all of Los Angeles, but he is totally uncooperative in disclosing that information, what would you do? Torture him until he disclosed the needed information or not? To stop the torture he might tell you something, but it might be wrong too. A puzzle. Or is it?
In Pain and Agony wrote on Feb 11, 2007 1:58 PM:Reading Kathi Anderson's morally relativistic essay IS TORTURE! Where are the human rights watchers? Kathi Anderson's lack of logic and reality constitutes mental abuse! If terrorists blow up a nuke in San Diego, we can all thank Kathi that no terrorist suspects were harmed in any way during the detonation of the bomb. So what if the federal agents missed the location of the ticking bomb because a terrorist refused to talk? Yep...what a better world it will be! At least the nuclear winter will reverse all that nasty global warming, right Kathi?
Reardon wrote on Feb 11, 2007 3:13 PM:Actually, I was following the leade of liberal Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz. (CNN, March 3, 2004) I find his kidnapping, burial scenario to be convincing. BTW: Waterboarding is quick. effective, non-dangerous (except psychological, and thats not lasting)It has saved many American lives.
To Citizen Sane wrote on Feb 11, 2007 5:09 PM:Reardon isn't the only Rush Limbaugh endless tape-loop around these boards - there is, unfortunately, a small but very noisy and repetitive gang of dumbed-down Bushbots soaked to the gills with the most disgusting form of right-wing propaganda in the corporate media today. No matter what the topic is, you can count on them to endlessly regurgitrate the claptrap excreted by the likes of Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, et. al. Every culture has its subgroups that have never learned to think for themselves, but these days it has gotten more pernicious and ignorant than ever. No wonder we've been the laughing stock of the world for the past 5 years.
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