The War on Torture

This morning the Editor of Metaphysics Anonymous examines two tactics of adversity.

Eldon New

I have noticed a symmetry between terrorism and torture.

They are both tactics to influence military campaigns or political movements.

They both tend to backfire, that is they can have the opposite effect than the one intended.

The tactic of terror is used by political movements with no ability or authority to negotiate, and who do not feel included in the political process.

The tactic of torture is used by political groups in power with legal authority and is used to maintain that power.

The Encyclopedia Americana has a section on torture:

“In modern history, torture of the sort which largely utilized mechanical devices, stemmed from the Greeks and Romans and spread with the systemization of the Inquisition to all of Europe during the 15th century, to be generally abandoned by the end of the 18th. It seems to have been common enough in England although there it never attained the status of legal recognition. Nor did it attain a legal form in the United States, as is evident in the prohibition in the 8th Amendment to the Constitution against the infliction of ‘cruel and unusual punishments.’ But torture still exists even though the picturesque boot, rack, and others have not survived. The so called ‘third degree,’ an illegal and atrocious abuse of power, may range from the use of a rubber hose, kidney punches, and a skilled knowledge of anatomy, to the devices of continuous questioning in relays, under bright lights, without sleep, for periods of 48 hours or more.”[1]

The article mentions groups who practice these methods:

“Nazis and Communists coupled these things with applications of castor oil and dentist’s drills plus the psychological coercion of
‘brainwashing’ accompanied by general ill treatment, promises of good treatment, and threats of injury to relatives.” ….Encyclopedia Americana, [1]

Newer issues of this encyclopedia will have to be updated to include the detail that some factions in the US government have decided that torture will now be allowed and utilized.

I have been in contact with Capt. Nemo through his friend Col. Kurtz, and he is planning to begin a part of the “War on Torture” by using sarcasm against the “evildoers” who perpetrate this abomination.

The US government has decided to pull out of the international court and not abide by the Geneva Convention, which they describe as “quaint.”

Einstein has weighed in on the issue of international law:

“Henceforth every nation’s foreign policy must be judged at every point by one consideration: does it lead us to a world of law and order or does it lead us back to anarchy and death?”..Albert Einstein [2]

Some people are worried by the bogus rationale for a recent war:

“The exercise of some nation-states of there as-yet-unlimited right to lie, assassinate, terrorize, and wage war, and to justify these actions in the name of ‘national security’ causes many to despair for the future of our planet.”..Myron W. Kronisch [3]

Reagan assumed the United States would continue to honor international law and human rights:

“Our goals are those of the UN’s founders, who sought to replace a world at war with one where the rule of law would prevail, where human rights were honored, where development would blossom, where conflict would give way to freedom from violence.”..Ronald Reagan, 1983 [4]

If this bothers you, we can get reassurance from President G.W. Bush’s recent statement:

“I will not negotiate with myself.”..G.W.Bush,[5]

I was going to print Captain Nemo’s response to that remark, but in light of the FCC’c recent rulings, it is unprintable. [6]

[1] Encyclopedia Americana, 1960. Vol XXVI , page 714

[2] Albert Einstein, quoted in “Planethood”, by Ferencz and Keyes, 1988 pg 118

[3] Myron W. Kronisch, Campaign for UN Reform, ibid, pg 122

[4] President Ronald Reagan, Address to the UN General Assembly, 1983 ibid, pg 136

[5] President[sic] G.W. Bush, press conference, Dec., 2004

6] I’m not telling!

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