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Originally Posted by hiredgun
Looking back through this thread I am having some trouble wrapping my head around how the question of what waterboarding fundamentally is is somehow escaping a decisive answer.
Forget the details. Waterboarding is the infliction of pain and terror for the purpose of extracting information. What possible definition of torture could exclude that activity? The only way this is possible is if the person answering the question is committed to the idea that 'torture' is by definition something done to us, whereas we by definition do not torture, and for this reason we must tweak the definition of torture in a way that emphasizes for all to see that what we do is not as bad as what they do and therefore cannot be classified as torture.
If you want to claim that waterboarding is justified, go ahead. I am more than willing to engage you in conversation about whether we can execute the form of torture known as waterboarding and still retain the moral high ground. But the therapeutic attempt to redefine the terms of debate in a way that leaves intact your increasingly dissonant framework of self-righteousness.... this seems to me kind of pathetic.
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We can not avoid the fact that "torture" as a concept is unique to each individual. What may "torture" you may not "torture" me. In my mind the real question is not what "torture" is or isn't, but as it relates to our national need to make sure that people acting on our behalf have clear direction and guidelines. Isn't wrong to charge certain people with an unpleasant task that brings into question morality without clearly defining the moral limits?
And as it relates to the Bush administration, why didn't the CIA have clear guidelines prior to Bush taking office? Did other President's know what was going on and ignored it? Are you assuming questionable questioning techniques only started under the Bush Admin?
Seems to me Bush deserves some credit for attempting to add clarity to an issue while not pretending it was not happening. For that Host calls for his impeachment??? That seems pathetic in my book.