Political analysis
George vs. Geneva
- By Chronically Pissed
- October 15, 2007
Amid all the debate about torture and whether the United States should or does engage in it, a fundamental point is being missed. Sure, compelling cases can be made that it does or doesn’t work, that it is or isn’t necessary, that the War on Terror is or is not a special case. What people are forgetting (or never learned) is that the Geneva Convention was not some sort of liberal bacchanal, designed to pussify warfare and take all the fun out of watching “24.” It was a sober discussion that sought consensus about which tactics no human being should ever have to endure, particularly considering the possibility of their implementation on an innocent person.
It effectively inverts the golden rule to say “Don’t do this to others unless you want others to rip your fingers off with pliers.” It does not care which side is right. It does not exist to protect the potential torturee. Rather, it is a prohibition against the potential torturer, to be imposed by each signatory nation upon itself, with the goal of eradicating practices that bring out the worst in humanity.
The Bush administration’s prevarication on this matter is dangerously revealing. They’re trying to pull off a tough guy routine, exploiting Americans’ fascination with and tacit approval of torture via winks and nods, but they can’t actually admit to their hardass tactics because even they understand the consequences of dismissing Geneva outright. Unfortunately, they’re inviting other nations and entities, friend and foe alike, to rationalize their own behavior in the name of security. That is no way to “support the troops.”
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These are some bashit crazy fascist bastards…I guess that is what the 28%ers are looking for…more crazy bastards.
450 days ago by RaulAgmalio
Yeah, we better hurry up and follow internaitonal laws so those terrorists will stop chopping heads off and commiting acts of torture themselves. I bet as soon as we do they too will comply. Great idea brainiac! Are you running for president by chance? Where do I donate?
446 days ago by Cornellia