Waterboarding

Waterboarding is defined in Webster’s dictionary as “an interrogation technique in which water is forced into a detainee’s mouth and nose as to induce the sensation of drowning” (Merriam-Webster, 2014). It is performed to obtain information that can be useful to the interrogator in the furtherance of his/her goals. The use of waterboarding as an interrogation technique was first documented in the 14th century. It involved the use of water to induce confessions as a “normal incident of law” (Weiner, 2007). President George W. Bush first approved the use of waterboarding against alleged September 11th terrorist attacks plotter Khalid Sheik Mohammed in 2003. President Bush has stated many times that he personally approved the use of this technique in an effort to prevent further loss of life from possible future terrorist attacks (Bush, 2010). Since its first documented use, waterboarding has proven to be an effective, non-lethal method of obtaining vital information that has proven to prevent loss of life. Therein lays the moral conundrum and the question to be answered: Is it morally defensible to use waterboarding as an interrogation technique? There are several normative ethical theories but the one that most closely aligns with the moral defense of waterboarding is consequentialism, which states that the moral value of an act is…

officer, to a secret location for interrogation of Ammar, a detainee who they believe is associated with the hijackers in the attacks of the World Trade Center. The character Ammar is based on Ammar al-Baluchi, the real-life nephew of al Qaeda leader Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Dan threatens and tortures Ammar to extract information from the detainee. Dan’s men push the detainee around while Dan threatens to hurt him if he lies. When Ammar refuses to reveal any information, Dan tortures him by…

Attorney General John Ashcroft approved verbally the methods used as enhanced interrogation techniques on July 24, 2002. A report released by the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday announced the CIA’s use of several interrogation methods. In the report there were in total of ten interrogation techniques. After a few days, waterboarding was verbally approved. Accordingly with the report, the CIA did not use another method to carry out many interrogations. The CIA decided to applied the…

In August of 2008 the late Christopher Hitchens wrote an essay published in Vanity Fair that was titled “Believe Me, It’s Torture”. This essay was unique because of its strange pairing of content and audience. Christopher Hitchens had decided to put a fairly controversial political essay in a magazine that targets women, covers fashion and pop culture, and typically steers away from politics entirely. This shows that his intended audience was the average adult woman in america. Christopher…

The first reason torture should be justified is as followed: the use of torture can save lives and prevent future acts of terrorism. Through the process of torture, the US, was able to distinguish connections between Khalid Sheik Muhammed and Jose Padilla. The use of torture was conducted on al Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah. Khalid Sheik Muhammed and Jose Padilla are two international terrorists that have committed terrorist actions m42k.p against the United States. When Khalid Sheik Mohammed…

The Pit and the Pendulum      The Pit and the Pendulum is a story about a man confined to a prison cell and tortured mercilessly in Toledo Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. Edgar Allen Poe's story is powerful because the prisoner tells the story of his torture. Given this you know he is going to survive which helps make the mystery so much more complex.      The plot is very believable and consistent. Poe shows great detail in the…

Eduardo Galeano, a Uruguayan journalist, once said “The purpose of torture is not getting information. It is spreading fear.” The novel Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein, follows the story of Julie as she is captured and tortured by the Gestapo for sets of code and other information. She is forced to write down all of her experiences and information she knows about the England War Effort. In Code Name Verity, Elizabeth Wein gives the reader insight on how terribly the prisoners are treated,…

One of the most common methods of enhanced interrogation is waterboarding. Waterboarding is when the prisoner is strapped to a gurney inclined at an angle about 10 or 12 degrees. Once strapped in, water is poured on a cloth covering the prisoners mouth and nose. They pour the water for no more then 40 seconds at a time (“Interrigation”, par. 16). Waterboarding much like most of the methods are used in last resort when the prisoner no longer provides information (Rosso, 389). With waterboarding…

These are the steps authorities need to take on the captives to punish them for their threats to the United States and to obtain the information necessary to ensure security. Waterboarding should be the last options, and used only if there is a probable cause and reasonable suspect on the individual, and the victim refuses to answer. If the subject miraculously stay persistent on not responding, then authorities need to stop the interrogation, keep the prisoner captive and interrogate further at…

There are some things that persist throughout history and into the modern world. One of such is the increase of pain or stress levels of an individual to obtain information. These said situations are often classified as torture. These acts have been used since the stone ages into the modern ages, and although have changed drastically over time, still remains. Despite what critics say, torture tactics of interrogation should not be allowed to be used in official government situations; there are…