Global War on Terror: Should Torture Ever Be Permitted?

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“[The] barbarous custom of whipping men suspected of having important secrets to reveal must be abolished. It has always been recognized that this method of interrogation, by putting men to the torture, is useless. The wretches say whatever comes into their heads and whatever they think one wants to believe. Consequently, the Commander-in-Chief forbids the use of a method which is contrary to reason and humanity” said Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798. Back in the 18th century, the French chieftain realized how illogical is to use pain in order to obtain information. However, researching historical information, the use of torture is not unknown to the human kind.
First it was the Greeks; who used to torture the criminals because they believed that since criminals do not possess honor, they will lie and the pain is the only way to make them say the truth. Next the Romans, who used torture as well, though already during this time the effectiveness was questioned: “Others are so little able to suffer that they will prefer to lie.” Later on, in the 12th -13th century, interrogating suspects with the help of torture appeared in Europe. The Canon law was invented – providing trials to defendants. However, if there was only “half-proof”, the suspect could undergo a torture so he would confess to his deeds. Then, it was the Inquisition who was notorious for its methods used to obtain what was desired and for their trials with the heretics. So when the Templars in France refused to lend finance to the king, he had them accused of heresy, tortured them into confessing themselves, executed them and then confiscated their property. Subsequently, torture as a method of gaining intelligence was banned in Europe during the Enlightenment Period approxi...

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... claims: “[…] you can get anyone to confess anything if the torture is bad enough” (Ross, and Esposito 1).

Works Cited

"Bush Openly Confesses Torture Authorization, No Prosecutions for CIA Tape Destruction: Why We Care and Why Bush Should Worry." Http://ccrjustice.org. The Center for Constitutional Rights, n.d. Web. 04 May 2014.
"How To Break A Terrorist," Interrogation & Torture with Author Tony Camerino. Dir. TheLipTV. YouTube. YouTube, 09 Aug. 2012. Web. 01 May 2014.
Saussman, David. "What's Wrong with Torture?" Wiley Online Library. N.p., 16 Dec. 2004. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
Ramos, Barbara, Christopher DiPuis, Dennis Galvin, Eiman Zolfaghari, and Sean Davin Cardeno. Interrogation and Torture. Rep. N.p.: n.p., 2005. Web.
Ross, Brian, and Richard Esposito. "CIA's Harsh Interrogation Techniques Described." ABC News. ABC News Network, 18 Nov. 2005. Web. 03 May 2014.

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