1) OBVIOUSLY it is not the “ideal” or the “most effective” method of gaining intelligence from someone. The ideal way is for them to just tell us. In an “ideal” world people wouldn’t be blowing themselves up. In an ideal world there would be no War. We don’t live in an ideal world.
As for most effective, the most effective method would probably be to have the family of a terrorist and their friends there with guns to their heads and the readiness by our interrogators to follow through. While not “ideal,” it would probably get us what we need.
At the end of the day this is War and in times of War our better angels must often be silenced. I would love it if we could sit these guys in a chair and offer them a deal. I would love it if they wanted apple pie, hot dogs and a comfortable bed and I hope that is offer number one and we do everything possible to use harsh interrogation tactics as a last resort.
No one is suggesting torture is the first line of defense but it is a method and one that has proven effective over thousands of years.
2) So they won’t talk, now what? We constantly hear there is a better way. What is it? What is the most effective way that doesn’t involve torture or fear or threat when all available means have been exhausted? What is it? Tell me! When you try every nice method and they still won’t talk because, you know, they are devoted to their cause, then what? Never do I hear Obama or liberals offer up the alternative. They won’t talk, so do we just leave them in a cell and hope for the best? If we believe they have information that can save lives, do we just close the door and do nothing? If there is a better way available that brings results, let’s hear it.
3) Of course they can give us false information under torture and say anything to make it stop. Guess what, if you put them in a room with their lawyer they can give us false information there too. Does anyone really believe that in a court of law with their hand on a Bible or a Koran it makes a difference? So because the threat of their life will make them give fake information, somehow they will fear contempt of court and a harsher sentence compelling them to talk? Are you kidding me?
These are people who don’t care about our laws, that is why they are fighting us. They know once they are captured they are going to spend their lives behind bars so what do they care about lying in a court room?
We all know torture might not give us what we want but don’t pretend like not torturing them holds an enormous advantage and they will somehow be more willing to give us real information.
The most effective means of torture is following through. You torture, they give you fake info, you verify the information, if it is fake you torture them more and worse. After you realize they aren’t giving information up or they don’t have anything of value, you kill the enemy or imprison them. Does that sound harsh? Grow up, it is called War. Go read about the Revolutionary, Civil, Barbary, Spanish-American, Korean, 1812, World, Vietnam, Iraq and all other Wars we’ve fought. This isn’t a tea party.
The objective of War is to stop the enemy and dominate the field. You don’t do that by holding hands, you do that by killing or containing as many of them as possible before they can kill or contain as many of our people as possible.
If enemy combatants won’t give up information they have no other use to us. That means death or imprisonment.
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