When we torture people, we CREATE martyrs for the cause we are against! We strengthen that cause!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

This post crystallized that thought for me. Torture is not just inherently wrong, it's STRATEGICALLY wrong!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5533950

[Xipe Totec]

1. When we torture people, we create enemies that cannot surrender

because they know that the consequences of surrender are worse than death in the battlefield.

Think about that.

Our enemies have no choice but to fight to the death because of the threat of torture.

How many of our brave soldiers will die because of this?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

2. If you know you were going to be captured and tortured, why not fight to the death?

If you knew you could surrender to humane treatment, it might encourage your surrender.

[Xipe Totec]

3. That is the basic principle behind the Geneva Convention

to offer soldiers, armies, and countries the option to surrender rather than die.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

4. Well, there you go! There's always logic behind some solution the entire world got behind

just one or two generations ago.

[rug]

5. I don't care if it works or not. It's wrong.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

6. my point is that even if someone (wrongly ) thinks it works in the short term

it can never work in the long term.

And I agree, it's wrong anytime, anyplace, by anyone.