General Discussion

tclambert

(11,194 posts)

63. Torture works . . . for producing false confessions.

Reply to My Good Babushka (Original post)

Tue Apr 26, 2016, 01:24 PM

Apr 2016

If that's what they want, as many torturers do, then they can help supply propaganda. Otherwise torture is only for the entertainment value. Good interrogators try to get their subjects to cooperate willingly, to get suspects or enemies to flip. That's when you get the good stuff.

America used to be better than this. We condemned the Japanese, and the North Koreans, and the Chinese, and the North Vietnamese for torturing our soldiers to get ridiculous false confessions. We called their actions war crimes and prosecuted many for it. And we cultivated a reputation for treating prisoners well. A German World War I veteran reportedly told his son, heading off to fight in World War II, "Fight bravely, and surrender to the first American you meet."

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I think it was the "we tortured some folks" moment [View all] My Good Babushka Apr 2016 OP

Agreed Completely cantbeserious Apr 2016 #1

Nonsense. THE REPUBLICANS "tortured some people," Hortensis Apr 2016 #52

Great rant! Thank you. Posts like this are why I still bother participating here. yardwork Apr 2016 #56

Point taken, and for every thing the Dems do that is bad, the Repubs are far far worse Fast Walker 52 Apr 2016 #68

Everything a president does has an opportunity Hortensis Apr 2016 #81

I agree 100% with you on torture & I imagine on many issues. The GOP is simply evil in most matters Fast Walker 52 Apr 2016 #88

Fast Walker, I agree with YOU 100%, and yes, Hortensis Apr 2016 #97

cool, fair enough! Fast Walker 52 Apr 2016 #103

So where are the indictments on torture charges that the Democrats JDPriestly Apr 2016 #90

What happened here was opportunity cost. Hortensis Apr 2016 #117

Democrats are Complicit Martin Eden Apr 2016 #73

Bullshit. RiverNoord Apr 2016 #92

Absolutely and 100% in complete agreement with this opinion - n/t mazzarro Apr 2016 #95

I agree and one of the problems is.... Hotler Apr 2016 #111

And I agree with you entirely. RiverNoord Apr 2016 #119

An American commited murder, you are a murderer Democat Apr 2016 #115

If that's how you interpreted the essence of what I wrote, RiverNoord Apr 2016 #120

^^^This!^^^ Surya Gayatri Apr 2016 #108

Democrats hands are not clean in this. progressoid Apr 2016 #113

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Apr 2016 #2

Retroactive immunity was a turning point in American history. L. Coyote Apr 2016 #11

Yes merrifield Apr 2016 #13

Good read about this 2cannan Apr 2016 #27

I loved Obama, he is still in my avatar with Bernie. thereismore Apr 2016 #114

endless drone strikes, the Afghanistan and Libya debacles, the forced deportation of immigrants Fast Walker 52 Apr 2016 #71

I guess I just need to touch base My Good Babushka Apr 2016 #3

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Apr 2016 #82

Ab-so-fucking-lutely correct. nt JEB Apr 2016 #4

He, by his actions and inactions re. torture, condoned it and normalized it. rhett o rick Apr 2016 #5

So, when he said we don't condone torture, he was actually saying, "We condone torture." Buzz Clik Apr 2016 #30

When Obama failed to prosecute what were clearly crimes he implicitly condoned them Fumesucker Apr 2016 #102

So few words MuseRider Apr 2016 #6

Very simple answer to your question of 'Why?' Stonepounder Apr 2016 #7

I don't know who you are, Stonepounder... ReRe Apr 2016 #16

I wasn't really asking but that was a great MuseRider Apr 2016 #47

+1 840high Apr 2016 #72

He had an opportunity matt819 Apr 2016 #8

Also, the opportunity to get rid of Bush's corrupt US attorneys, what the hell went wrong there? L. Coyote Apr 2016 #12

Obama did what every other president has done. former9thward Apr 2016 #21

No, he left Holding in NC for years unc70 Apr 2016 #79

If he was held over it was Obama's decision. former9thward Apr 2016 #86

Obama left him in until Holding said he was done unc70 Apr 2016 #87

Imagine he had gone forward with prosecutions.. Hulk Apr 2016 #39

I don't believe that this country is too fragile for justice My Good Babushka Apr 2016 #46

who know what the person that covers for criminal behavior is guilty of? questionseverything Apr 2016 #59

OK, sure, but what are you going to DO about it? FairWinds Apr 2016 #9

Thank you. My Good Babushka Apr 2016 #41

America said, in effect, 'Yeah, we tortured people. So, what?', heaping insult and disdain to injury Solly Mack Apr 2016 #10

Unfortunately there are people on this board who choie Apr 2016 #33

"we tortured some folks" sammythecat Apr 2016 #14

psychopathically blas� attitude (sorry. more than one word, I tried) Hiraeth Apr 2016 #22

nail meet hammer NJCher Apr 2016 #34

I fully agree about the use of "folks". PWPippin Apr 2016 #109

And I hope people realize that if it comes to a choice between military spending and A Simple Game Apr 2016 #15

Truth! SammyWinstonJack Apr 2016 #54

It has accomplished making the MIC ever larger and dependant on Phlem Apr 2016 #17

That was when it became blindingly obvious... truebrit71 Apr 2016 #18

Agree absolutely. bjo59 Apr 2016 #19

We don't really have two political parties in America, NorthCarolina Apr 2016 #20

I like to call one *dog* and the other *pony*. maybe that is just me. Hiraeth Apr 2016 #23

Or NorthCarolina Apr 2016 #24

and they are so gracious about taking turns! Hiraeth Apr 2016 #25

Perfect. bigwillq Apr 2016 #26

! Hiraeth Apr 2016 #29

Yeah. It all started there. We'd never been in a war before. Thanks, Obama. Buzz Clik Apr 2016 #28

Jeesus christ you will excuse anything choie Apr 2016 #35

This message was self-deleted by its author Buzz Clik Apr 2016 #48

That's not what was said or even implied Bradical79 Apr 2016 #36

re-read the second paragraph of the OP. Buzz Clik Apr 2016 #49

I did. Read it a third time too. My response is 100% accurate. Bradical79 Apr 2016 #58

I'm talking about the moment for me My Good Babushka Apr 2016 #43

Ok, thanks for the clarification. But, the second paragraph of the OP... Buzz Clik Apr 2016 #50

I have no doubt that Hillary as prez will keep the wars going to make her corporate base happy. Arugula Latte Apr 2016 #31

Exaggerate much? Or perhaps you love hyperbole. Indydem Apr 2016 #32

Between 1.3 and 4 million My Good Babushka Apr 2016 #40

Well, there's a lot wrong there. Indydem Apr 2016 #44

I believe the doctors My Good Babushka Apr 2016 #55

Believe whoever you want. Indydem Apr 2016 #60

You're welcome to post the studies My Good Babushka Apr 2016 #62

IBC is still the most accurate Indydem Apr 2016 #66

Still waiting for your total count of non-violent deaths Orrex Apr 2016 #75

Give us a precise figure. How many dead civilians is too many, by your count? Orrex Apr 2016 #61

Baby, you're so sweet My Good Babushka Apr 2016 #64

*smooch* Orrex Apr 2016 #74

There are a number of sources. Indydem Apr 2016 #65

That only cites death from violence My Good Babushka Apr 2016 #67

That was chilling felix_numinous Apr 2016 #37

Except they are not zentrum Apr 2016 #38

Completely agree. "We tortured some folks" Really... SammyWinstonJack Apr 2016 #42

How very well you summed it up Mira Apr 2016 #45

That's a good way to describe the feeling. nt. My Good Babushka Apr 2016 #69

I never really thought our safety was really a concern Victor_c3 Apr 2016 #51

Reminded me of the "Otter defense" from Animal House tularetom Apr 2016 #53

"We tortured some folks" seems a bit casual democrank Apr 2016 #57

Torture works . . . for producing false confessions. tclambert Apr 2016 #63

Rec x1,000.... such an important point Fast Walker 52 Apr 2016 #70

The War on Terror is a strategic plan FlatBaroque Apr 2016 #76

This primary season has forced me to examine my values Kalidurga Apr 2016 #77

Obama answered your question Thespian2 Apr 2016 #94

Oh well there you go CYA rules Kalidurga Apr 2016 #101

Especially among the Thespian2 Apr 2016 #116

Republican Admin. crimes we ALL have to 'pay for' and acknowledge forever. Sunlei Apr 2016 #78

War is profitable for some folks malaise Apr 2016 #80

"Tangled rat-king of war criminals" would be a great name for a punk rock band. yellowcanine Apr 2016 #83

The "War on Terror" has improved things by 1,400% 90-percent Apr 2016 #84

This message was self-deleted by its author Corruption Inc Apr 2016 #85

Now, now, don't be sanctimonious. Scuba Apr 2016 #89

"Impeachment (and obviously indictment of the war criminals) is off the table" Pelosi. Dont call me Shirley Apr 2016 #91

The REAL REASON for the War On Terror ... nikto Apr 2016 #93

I think it was the fake folksiness of "some folks" that bothered me Bucky Apr 2016 #96

The MIC needs perpetual warfare to keep the economy afloat. Rex Apr 2016 #98

Another one of the things the DU right wingers are OK with as long as Obama and Clinton do it Doctor_J Apr 2016 #99

The so-called war on terror... 3catwoman3 Apr 2016 #100

Remember Bll Hicks? MasonDreams Apr 2016 #104

no one has been held accountable Skittles Apr 2016 #105

K&R emsimon33 Apr 2016 #106

After he granted the torturers blanket immunity... pat_k Apr 2016 #107

It's achieved one thing. Bad Dog Apr 2016 #110

Nothing will ever get better. Ever. alarimer Apr 2016 #112

How did the President "decline" to prosecute them? treestar Apr 2016 #118

My thoughts as well. n/t GummyBearz Apr 2016 #121

On second thought... Iggo Apr 2016 #122