Torture Crisis Grows

The lead article in today’s New York Times is titled, “In Adopting Harsh Tactics, No Inquiry Into Past Use.” An investigative piece, it goes into great details about the people and events surrounding the implementation of torture by the United States government.

The article names names and includes a series of photos of the players in the continuation with photos of them all. It notes how easy it would have been to investigate the history of these methods when they were applied by the Chinese Communist government in the 50s, and their lack of effectiveness.

Apparently, the people who approved the torture, or were in a position to object, but failed to do so, were lulled into complacency by the use of these methods to train U.S. soldiers in the event of capture. The training program, known as SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape), did not address how effective the results would be or the history of their use.

The history of waterboarding, in fact, was used by the Spanish Inquisition, and was even on display in the genocide museum in Cambodia to describe the methods of Pol Pot.

Once again the Bush administration failed to conduct the analysis and deep background required before making such a momentous decision. They were misled by theories from psychologists and other doctors who had never witnessed the horror of such an interrogation on purpose.

 The only proper response to these new revelations is to demand a thorough, non-partisan investigation. Our country’s dignity and self-worth demand it.