...Torture and Ethics Paper Jennifer Yow ASJ 532 June 16, 2014 Since -9/11, torture has been official US policy by George Bush at the highest levels of government. On September 17, 2001, George Bush signed a secret finding empowering CIA to "Capture, Kill, or Interrogate Al-Queda Leaders." (Lendman, 2008). It also authorized establishing a secret global facilities to detain and interrogate them without guidelines on proper treatment. In the same time, Bush approved a secret "high-value target list" of about two dozen names. He also gave CIA free reign to capture, kill and interrogate terrorists that were not on the list (Lendman, 2008). What is torture: (a) the intentional infliction of extreme physical pain or suffering on some non-consenting, defenseless person; (b) the intentional, substantial curtailment of the exercise of a person's autonomy (achieved by means of (a)); (c) in general, undertaken for the purpose of breaking the victim's will." We will discuss terrorism and torture, look at arguments for and against each practice, and ethically evaluate those arguments (Lendman, 2008).. If pain is meant to break the will of the person, one must ask when we might have an interest in doing so. Certainly violating the freedom through violence is not acceptable for citizens; I may not justifiably torture you to obtain what I want from you, be it your property, your behavior, or your ideological consent (Lendman, 2008). Also, the police may not torture to obtain information...
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...article. In your paper, thoroughly discuss and evaluate the following concepts: the ticking time bomb hypothesis; Dershowitz's comments regarding Jeremy Bentham as well as his comments about Voltaire's views; and the three ways to deal with the use of torture in the ticking time bomb situation, as stated by the Israeli government-appointed commission of the late 1980s. As part of the discussion about the commission's conclusions, include Dershowitz's "fourth road." Abstract After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America, numerous articles and books were published. These articles and books analyzed why the 9/11 attack happened and proposed solutions on how to prevent terrorist attacks in the future. Alan Dershowitz contributed to this body of literature from a lawyer's perspective in his book titled Why Terrorism Works: Understanding the Threat, Responding to the Challenge. In an article from the book titled, Should the Ticking Time Bomb Terrorist Be Tortured, many of his suggestions such as the use of torture, are rather controversial; however, Dershowitz encourages people to rethink current notions of security, liberty, and international law. Alan Dershowitz acknowledges that he is not an expert on terrorism; his opinions, suggestions and methods in his articles and books were written using his lifetime of experience in crime and violence from the perspective of a defense lawyer and a professor of criminal law and knowledge of psychology. ...
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...Perspectives on Torture and the War on Terrorism An evaluation on Several Arguments Tonia Jenkins Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Snelgrove June 13, 2012 Michael Yoo used several definitions from several different places to define torture in his argument. The first definition is the one he used when he defined torture as the following: act committed by a person acting under the color of law specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering (other than pain or suffering incidental to lawful sanctions) upon another person within his custody or physical control. The other definition he uses it used to show what the government defines torture as. This definition is as follows: The United States understands that in order to constitute torture, an act must be specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering and that mental pain or suffering refers to prolonged mental pain caused by or resulting from (1) the intentional infliction or threatened infliction of severe physical pain or suffering; (2) administration or application, or threatened administration of application, of mind altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or the personality; (3) the threat of imminent death; (4) the threat that another person will imminently be subjected to death, severe physical pain or suffering, or the administration or application of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated...
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...II May 9, 2014 Torture Used an Interrogation Strategy One of the most controversially talked about topics is should torture be used. Torture is one of the most extreme forms of human violence (Gernity). Torture dates back to 530 A.D, when Roman jurists espoused to virtues of torture as the highest form of truth (Green). Torture was a well-established American tradition (Gewen). Torture can be used to gain valuable information in a timely manner, and other countries at war will not hesitate to use torture against their enemies to gain information. American Police and the U.S. Military have tortured people to gain information and evidence even though it is technically illegal. This shows that America is willing to break laws to gain information. Cruel and unusual punishment is banned in many countries including the United States of America (Torture is a Just Means for Preventing Terrorism). The Geneva Conventions ban the use of violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture (Torture is a Just Means for Preventing Terrorism). The United Convention Against Torture bans torture of all civilians, combatants, prisoners of war and terrorists (Torture is a Just Means for Preventing Terrorism). The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 5 states,” No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (Torture is a Just Means for Preventing Terrorism). The Convention...
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...The Morality of Torture The authority of using torture as a punishment in the past has been a cause for conflict. Today, some people see torture as an efficient form of punishment; they believe it is especially necessary in the treatment of terrorist prisoners or prisoners for the purpose of pulling information. Some writers make up fake situations to blow the advantages of torture out of proportion, claiming that it is danger free, low cost and useful for getting fast response. However, after carefully thinking through the arguments used by many torture supporters, one will figure out that the arguments of torture supporters are false. Writers who support torture show less logic, but rather offended anger to evil violence. The use of torture as а form of punishment should be prohibited because contrary to the arguments of torture supporters, it does not serve а purpose, is against international law, and will only perpetuate hatred and retaliation. (Davis) According to, the International Statuette, Torture is any kind of use of force, mental or physical used on a human being to gain third party information or self-confession. No country prefers to use it but is forced to do in order to safeguard the lives of its citizens and smoothen justice. (Greenberg) Most criminal suspects go through some level of torture. Torture may involve Physical methods like starvation, beatings, burning, sodomy as well as psychological methods such as verbal abuse, solitary confinement, and sleep...
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...The United States has been an example in following the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) since 1984. Any use of torture was considered not only as an infringement of the human rights, but also an infringement to the same convention which United States was a signer. Nevertheless, the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist incursion changed the United States position against torture. Officials who were highly concerned about the security of the country voted for a start of a war against terrorism. During the same period any interrogation techniques, whether conventional or unconventional, were used on suspects to gain intelligence about any presumable imminent terrorist attack. The United States violated the UNCAT and began torturing its suspects. Many incidents reported by the media since 2002 revealed that prison guards were instructed to “prepare” prisoners for the interrogation suggesting the use of torture to intimidate them before the interrogation starts (“The Legal Prohibition”). These events caused a debate on the authorization of torture. The UNCAT signed by the United States defines torture as a dehumanizing interrogation...
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...ethics and torture 544 3/14/2016 Melba V. Pearson The paper of ethics and torture The following of September 11 tortures has become the method use, within the United States policy from former President Georgia W. Bush within the highest stages of the American government. During 9/11 former President Bush signed a document that would give the CIA the control, to capture kill also interrogate terrorist leaders and group member of that outfit as well. It even gave the CIA the authority to obtain private locations around, the world to capture also interrogate the terrorism with the human right being taken away from them within theses private areas they used. Then former president as well develop and top property lines, of high valued names of terrorist. This government agency granted the right to detain, interrogate also kill the terrorist that was not on the high-value list. Many people within a society have different definitions of torture. However, torture is a person that intentionally physically harms a defenseless, also not consenting individual severely. The considerable deliberate curtailment, with the exercises of a person self-sufficiency, obtain by any means necessary commonly to assume the reason for breaking the will of the not consenting individual. Also in this paper, we will talk about terrorism. Torture look at both sides in favor and not in the use of torture it evaluates each side ethically (Jeremy Diamond, 2014). In the practice of torture is used...
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...quite challenging. Rest assured that the tute preparation load will be significantly lighter once we get to tutorial 5 (or soon after that if you are in a smaller tutorial group) and the tutorial presentations. Until then it’s necessary to do a bit of front loading, so to speak, to get you up and running with the text analysis methodologies which will stand you in good stead later in the semester. Once you have mastered these methodologies there will be significantly less theory and much more of an emphasis on actual journalistic coverage of events, people, issues and trends. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A guide to analysing views journalism Part 1 – characterising arguments by reference to the how they are justified and supported In the first section of these notes we are going to look in a bit more detail at how supporting argumentation (justifications) works to justify primary claims. This material was dealt with in previous tutes and lectures but now we go into more depth – specifically extending the discussion to consider the nature of the warrants which are typically associated with the different types of justification. By attending to warrants in this way it becomes possible to provide telling insights into the author’s persuasive style and into the value system or worldview which is taken for granted...
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...heavily fortified compound in Abbottabad. On Sunday U.S. Special Forces killed May 2, 2011 bin Laden, in a dramatic raid. Although, torture techniques were used during interrogation to extract information that led to the mission's success. There are many Critics that oppose the use of torture on terrorist, saying that its both impractical ineffective. And the information given is often falsified. And those who perform these tactics are seen as evil and immoral. Or so the argument goes. Yet as a result of terrorist attacks many people believe the use of torture on terrorists should be used in order to obtain information to prevent future attacks. Critics against enhanced interrogation say that the use of these tactics removes us from the moral high ground. As well as the information obtained is invalid. and that the use of other methods can be just as effective. We have seen the brutality and utter lack of regard for human life through torture by the Saddam Hussein regime, and Osama bin Laden. What put us above these terrorists are our high values we put on human rights. That can be seen in the genive code of convention stating that the use of torture is widely prohibited under domestic and international law. If we disregard those rules and lower our moral ideals we become no better than the terrorists that we try to elimiate. Also Torture is considered by many experts as both impractical and ineffective. In May 2009, Obama accused the men and women of the CIA...
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...Is Torture Ever Acceptable? According to dictionary.com, the definition of torture is. “The act of inflicting excruciating pains, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information”. Torture has been here for a long time and people have gotten good and bad results from it. The debate centers around whether or not this act is humane and if it is worth the violation of civil rights that belong to every person in a civilized society. If we continue to use barbaric methods only to receive a mixed bag of results, is the implementation worth the abuse of fellow human beings? My goal is to prove that my research has found that torture is unacceptable in all cases. Torture is never justified because there are many reasons...
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...Torture and Ethics Paper Alfreepha Williams AJS/532 July 21, 2013 Patricia DeAngelis Torture and Ethics There are many views or definition of the word “torture”, which is often debated by many individuals. According to “International Rehabilitation Council For Torture Victims” (2005-2012), “torture is an act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining information or a confession, punishing him for an act committed” (para. 2). “Torture is anguish of body or mind; something that causes agony or pain; the infliction of intense pain (from burning, crushing, or wounding) to punish, coerce, or afford sadistic pleasure; or distortion or over refinement of a meaning or an argument” (“Torture,” 2013). There are debates about torture and whether or not is unethical or a cruel and unusual punishment. People have been taught to believe that torturing a person is unacceptable and inhumane. However, the torturing of an enemy to get answers is not considered cruel and inhumane especially, when it involves saving the lives of many. This paper will analyze whether torturing enemy combatants or high-value targets violates standards of morality in an American free society. It will also examine whether the act of torture violates basic human rights and if it could have global implications, and last determine if torture may be justified under ontological, deontological, utilitarianism, or the natural...
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...Human Rights in Strasbourg. The Conservative party believe that a British Bill of Rights is a much better alternative to the HRA whereas the Liberals truly believe that instead of scrapping it, it should be enhanced and strengthened. Although there are many benefits of having a HRA, the flaws outweigh the argument to keep it and should therefore be scrapped. One argument for the abolition of the HRA is that it makes it difficult to fight terrorism and maintain Law and Order. It is hard to do so as terrorist suspects are protected by one main aspect of the HRA, if there is the possibility of them being tortured when returned to their home country the ECHR can block their deportation. For example, in January 2012, Home Secretary Theresa May wished to have Abu Qatada (Osama bin Laden’s right hand man) deported back to Jordan in order to face a trial. However, the ECHR blocked the deportation of Abu Qatada because of fears that evidence obtained under torture would be used against him in his own country. They eventually appealed the decision and came to the agreement that he would be deported to Jordan but they could not use evidence obtained by torture. In 2014, the case against him collapsed due to the lack of evidence and he was released. This shows that without the restrictions from the HRA they...
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...Among many widespread concerns about torture, one is what exactly defines it, and what specific acts are included. While Bagaric does not mention this in his argument, it is a main concern to Johnson throughout his article. Johnson describes torture as “a form of terrorism…The object of all such physical and mental torment is singularly clear: to terrify prisoners so they will yield information.” (26) Later in his article, Johnson quotes the definition of torture as defined by the U.S. Justice Department, and reads as follows: “‘Physical pain amounting to torture must be equivalent in intensity to the pain accompanying serious physical injury, such as organ failure, impairment of bodily function, or even death.’” (27) An article in the February...
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...Introduction This assignment comprises of two articles, which deal with International Terrorism How not to fight Terrorism by Mukul Sharma and Exporting the Patriot Act? Democracy and the ‘war on terror’ in the Third World by Beth Elise Whitaker and a report named The Terror of Law UAPA and the Myth of National Security, by CDRO, which deals with terrorism on National level. The basic definition of terrorism is ‘the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purpose.’ An act of terrorism might be terrorism to one country whereas patriotism to another country. There are different definitions of terrorism by different agencies. There is no accurate definition of Terrorism as there is difference of opinion...
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...citizen for these amendments to take effect. Michael E. Cannon, member of the military service for over twenty-two years, noted that these amendments are not followed through when it comes to investigations outside of the United States, notoriously in the Middle East where countless infamous prisons torture prisoners daily, such as Abu Ghraib (Cannon). Many arguments are made as to whether torture should or should not be used during investigations. Torture, in some circumstances, has been shown to aid investigations or in some way break the prisoner. Americans feel secure knowing that they are controlling people from the same nationality or religion as those who hurt the nation tremendously a few years ago. Although the safety of United States’ citizens is a vital necessity and a right when living in the nation, it should not take precedent over the torture-free lives of others. Torturing began to surface in investigations after the events of September 11, 2001 when terrorists crashed planes into the Twin Towers. Since the tragic day, torture techniques surfaced in order to link people to terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda. “By a wide margin, 40%-58% of Americans say that torture should never be used, no matter the...
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