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12th of February, 2008

17:07

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When the CIA met prisoners at Guantanamo, they used torture.

When the FBI met prisoners at Guantanamo, they used... something else.

My strong belief: whether "torture works" depends on what you really want. If you want to break someone -- to force them to sign confessions, to make them say anything in front of a camera -- then torture works. If you want to know the truth, then don't use torture. You can use many tricks to quickly gain trust -- see "neuro-linguistic programming" in any bookstore.

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From:[info]drewkitty
Date:2008-Feb-13 01:29 am (UTC)
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As someone passingly familiar with what is chillingly called "rigorous interrogation," let me add something here.

Torture works only when the information provided can be immediately verified.

Example: (T)orturer (V)ictim

T What is the frequency?
V (lies)
T (tests frequency, fail)
T PAIN! . . . (repeat)
V OW! . . . (repeat)
V Stop already! The frequency is (true)
T (tests frequency, pass)
T Now we're talking. What is the next frequency?
V (thinks, "damn")

As opposed to most Gitmo interrogations:

(I)nterrogator (S)ubject

I Tell me where the safe house is!
S No!
I I can yell at you all night . . . (repeat)
S OK . . . (repeat)
I (After many days, breaks S's brain.)
S The safe house is in Morocco.
I (Checks, is told 'You don't have security clearance for that')
I You lied.
S You have no idea whether I tell the truth or not, do you?
S Lies . . .
I Tears hair out . . .



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From:acthelion
Date:2008-Feb-13 02:01 am (UTC)
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Exactly. Also, torture does bad things when it comes to foreign relations -- and then people, from around the world, see us as using third-world interrogation tactics.
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From:[info]bosn
Date:2008-Feb-13 03:07 am (UTC)
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The evil of Torture is reviled by its very first step. I mental step you must take or you will not be very effective. You must convince yourself that the person your torturing is sub-human. That they are not entitled even the basic principles of human rights.

When you make this step you are already past the gates of Hell.
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From:[info]sfmarty
Date:2008-Feb-13 06:03 pm (UTC)
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One of the family jokes when something unpleasant has occurred is to say "I confess to everything"

Torture is so non productive in every way. Any prisoner who tells anything is suspect, in my humble. Self preservation will always win.

The Spanish Inquisition used waterboarding and all it got them was a reputation.

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[User Picture]
From:[info]wickedladybear
Date:2008-Feb-14 06:59 pm (UTC)
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Yeah I had noticed that article. Amazing innit? *shakes head*
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From:[info]temima
Date:2008-Feb-14 08:51 pm (UTC)
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I read this, read Scalia's 'ticking bomb' argument, and think "Haven't you people heard of the Salem Witch Trials? Breaking people doesn't get the truth."
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