By Tim Baldwin
The recent revelation of CIA torture tactics poses yet another philosophical question of how the federal government abuses its power against people, some of whom “did not meet the … standard for detention” according to the report. This revelation, undoubtedly, will cause America’s enemies to find further justification to mistreat us given the opportunity.
For centuries, political philosophers have expressed the importance of rightly treating other nations because of the huge ramifications that derive from mistreating them, such as perpetual war and unconstitutional occupations. Somehow, many Republicans, like former Vice President Dick Cheney, reject this sound wisdom and wittingly place America in a volatile and precarious situation by these torture tactics.
While Sen. Diane Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) motives for using this report are questioned by political pundits and Republican warmongers will tout how torturing others has saved American lives, I think Americans are becoming increasingly nauseous of the federal government’s disregard for basic human rights.
So, will voting for Republicans or Democrats one election year to the next change this course of action? Looking at history, it is not likely. Perhaps one reason the federal government tortures people in our name with our tax money is they have no fear of being punished themselves by the American people.
By Joe Carbonari
It is clear that in the war on terror we have engaged in the use of at least the moral equivalent of torture. Torture resides in the dark zone; the place between good and evil. That battle zone lies within each of us. Outcomes vary. They define our nature.
It’s said that the character of a people is displayed on the battlefield. In our war on terror we have resorted to some torture … to save some lives. Were we justified in having done so? Would you have done so?
Most of us cannot answer that question. We don’t know enough. What we do know, however, is that allowing our secret services to make these decisions on their own is unacceptable.
Effective oversight is critical, but human nature makes it difficult. Operatives can lighten the darkness of what is done by under-reporting, and oversight can be complicit by acceptance. We can too easily turn our heads. We must be on guard. We must walk a fine line; others will follow.
Our country has drawn the peoples of the world, at least in part, because of our adherence to the basic tenants of human decency. We champion these tenants throughout the world. We protect the poor and the defenseless. Our standards are high. We should live by them. They define us.