The Ministry of Shadows

Last Five Entries

Gone, But Not Forgotten?
Friday, Jan. 20, 2012

What The Internet Will Look Like Under SOPA
Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012

Fearsgiving Week
Monday, Nov. 21, 2011

Jesus Approves of Waterboarding
Monday, Nov. 14, 2011

Beware of Asteroids
Wednesday, Nov. 09, 2011

Resources

FirstGov Portal

Legislative Database


Recommended Reading

Bindyree

Bruce Schneier

James Hudnall

Glenn Greenwald

D-Day

You Are Dumb


All links are current as of the date of publication. All content created by the author is copyrighted 2005-2010, except where held by the owners/publishers of parent works and/or subject materials. Any infringement of another's work is wholly unintentional. If you see something here that is yours, a polite request for removal or credit will be honored.



Why Torture Is Bad

Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006 4:09 AM

A military court has found Army Chief Warrant Officer Lewis Welshofer, Jr. guilty of negligent homicide in the death of an Iraqi general whom Welshofer was questioning.

It seems Chief Welshofer believed Abed Hamed Mowhoush, an Iraqi Major General, had essential information on the insurgency.

So he began with a straightforward interview, but eventually progressed to beatings, simulated drownings, and finally, asphyxiation - he put a sleeping bag over the prisoner's head and sat on him.

Consequently, the prisoner dies without revealing any useful information (possibly because he didn't have any).

Welshofer believed that approved techniques were relics of Cold War-era doctrine, and insufficient to the task. One officer advised Chief Welshofter to, "take a deep breath and remember who we are."

Well, hallelujah! Someone else understands that if we stoop to torture and other behaviors usually ascribed to the bad guys, we've sold out our ideals, our integrity, and our morals.

Not much left to sell after that, except, perhaps, our souls.


The Ministry has received 1 comment(s) on this topic.



Brin - 2006-01-22 13:09:25
A quote from Babylon 5 comes to mind: "When you obssess with the enemy, you become the enemy."