Torture Definition

Introduction
Counter-terrorism is a fairly new tactic that has emerged in the midst of escalation of non-state actors attacking nation-states in the protest of protecting world views as well as forward political ideologies in the interests of changes.
Definitions and what constitutes as torture.
The argument is within the confines of torture being used as a strategic tool to the war on terror declared.
The need to define torture is imperative in light of the different debates of what actually constitutes torture and how one distinguishes it from other means of interrogation and coercive means. A definition across board of torture is that it is “an act that brings suffering, physical and mental, by intentionally inflicting pain on a person with the purpose of obtaining information (Ginbar, 2008, Miller, 2009; Waldron, 2009) Miller further adds by characterising person subjected to torture as being defenceless persons. Furthermore to the purpose of torture is to get a confession and to punish (Miller, 2009). Contrary to what has been defined above, torture is distinguished from abuse because of the extreme complex measures that are conducted and that is complicated ill-treatment. The reasons for the distinction are because with abuse one may or may not be aware of the ill-treatments inflicted upon them whereas torture is degrading and inhumane treatment (Miller, 2009). One can therefore conclude that torture is the highest degree of ill-treatment that can be inflicted on a person short of actually killing them.
Legal approach
In the wake of torture practices surfacing in the public eye, much debate circulate about possibly institutionalising as well legalising torture with the intention of addressing issues of practices that ...

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... the captive is possession of an explosive that they have strategically placed within an area known to be crowded with civllians and that the device shall expire to explode in time period not too far in the future. The assumption is made that the conventional means of eliciting the information have been exhausted. The scenario being depicted in the argument of obligation to obtain the necessary information by all means necessary to save the lives of many is often illustrated. On the basis of this scenario it is seen in effect to morally justify torture in respect of the greater that comes resultant to save many lives. The idea of TBS scenario is met with many complex elements to consider. The idea of the authority of a moral agent being subjected to committing an immoral act of infringing on the wellbeing of another irrespective of their convictions is entertained.