Tactics performed on prisoners and suspects

by: Natalie Smith
Staff Writer

Is the United States government justified in using torture techniques on prisoners of war and terrorist suspects because of 9/11? Some citizens believe that indeed torture tactics used towards such people are acceptable because of their attitude and actions towards our country.

Many citizens are unaware that the government is suspected of having contracts with unknown organizations and individuals that are accused of taking prisoners and suspects to unknown areas outside of the United States and carrying out degrading treatment. However, many of these tactics cannot seriously physically harm an individual or cause them to feel much physical pain.

An example of such a tactic is one known as “waterboarding”. The prisoner is tied down to a board and blindfolded. He or she begins to think that they are drowning when water is poured on their face and into their mouth.

United States Senator John McCain from Arizona had a personal experience with torture when he was being held prisoner during the Vietnam War. He believes that although such a technique is not physically harmful it is extremely damaging to an individual’s state of mind.

He said in a Newsweek article, “In my view, to make someone believe that you are killing him by drowning is no different than holding a pistol to his head and firing a blank. I believe that is torture, very exquisite torture.”

McCain, who supports the war on terrorism, has proposed a ban on torture and inhumane treatment. The amendment has been approved by the Senate in a significant 90 -9 vote.

The Bush administration is opposing this law that would prohibit inhumane and cruel treatment.

When asked about the issue of mistreatment carried out by American soldiers SAU freshman Dave Kietzman had this to say.

“I think it’s justifiable because they would probably do the same thing to our troops if they were captured,” Kietzman said.

 It is fair to say that many Americans feel the same way Kietzman does. It seems that because of 9/11 many citizens feel that the torture of these individuals is not only justifiable but also understandable. 

In the Abu Gharib prison scandal the American soldiers took pictures as they tortured the individuals being held captive.

Lee Smith, a defense attorney in Peoria, IL, represented Ali Al-Marri who was declared an enemy combatant in 2003. Al-Marri resided in Peoria at the time of his arrest in December 2001. He was accused of financially supporting Al Qaeda’s 9/11 attack and he has remained in isolated detention ever since his arrest.

 It is possible that he is one of the many prisoners who had been subjected to psychological mistreatment that some might consider torture.

“Such treatment is not comport with the constitutional guarantee against cruel and unusual punishment,” Smith said.

Ante Juric is a senior at SAU and said torture comes with war.

“It’s definitely something that is going to happen during war,” Juric said.  “But the government shouldn’t try and cover it up. They should find a different way to approach it. It’s not something that anyone can really justify.”

Regardless of one’s personal beliefs this is an issue that people feel the citizens of our country need to  acknowledge. The United States was founded on a set of values that suggest others are treated with human kindness.

However in a world filled with violence and hatred it is easy to get angry and want to gain revenge on people who are set on killing innocent Americans because we do not share the same beliefs and ideas  they do.

Perhaps getting even isn’t necessarily the right path to take. How can we expect others to try and learn what human kindness is all about if we can’t demonstrate it ourselves?

McCain approaches this idea in the Newsweek article when he states, “It is necessary to ask those who are fighting this war to know that in the discharge of their dangerous responsibilities to their country they are never expected to forget that they are Americans, and the valiant defenders of a sacred idea of how nations should govern their own affairs and their relations with others – even our enemies.”