Use of Torture is Never Justified Essay - 1876 Words

Pretend it’s a regular Tuesday morning going through the usual routine: waking up, taking a shower, eating breakfast, and then in the background, there’s breaking news. A plane has crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Mesmerized, you stand by the television listening to newscasters discuss this ‘terrible accident.’ Then, seventeen minutes later, the South Tower was hit. It’s finally becoming clear that this was no accident. Well, this was the exact scene on the morning of September 11, 2001. Soon after, President George W. Bush sent the most powerful military in the world in a search for â€Å"those who were behind these evil acts.† President Bush pledged to â€Å"direct every took of intelligence, every†¦show more content†¦Another problem with the use of torture is that in some cases, as in Abu Ghraib, it is done for the sheer entertainment of bored guards and not necessarily to accomplish any go al. What it all boils down to is that torture to extract intelligence from enemy combatants, whether it provides information beneficial to our national security or not, should not be used under any circumstances. First, let’s address this issue from a purely moral standpoint. Torture is wrong. There is no denying that fact. To put another human being through events or situations that may damage them for the rest of their lives is not right. Even if some are reluctant to have sympathy for enemy combatants, the truth is that torture also remains engrained in the memories of those committing the heinous acts. In a study done by the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS), it found that â€Å"increased exposure to combat was correlated with increased psychological trauma. Those findings are well known. But a lesser-known part of the study also looked at ‘abusive violence’ – including torture – and found that it, too, had a high correlation with PTSD† (Phillips). According to the American Psychological Association, PTSD, or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, is an anxiety problem that develops in some people after extremely traumatic events, such as combat, crime, an accident or natural disaster. What this study reveals is that, though we may think that there is only one victimShow MoreRelatedIs Torture justified?1704 Words   |  7 PagesComposition I November 9, 2013 Is Torture justified? What is torture? Basically, this is the action of physically or psychologically hurting a person without their permission and against their will. The torture has many goals such as obtaining a confession or information of the victim, revenge for an act committed by the victim or just for entertainment morbid and sadistic of the torturer. According to the 1984  United Nations Convention against Torture, the torture is: â€Å"any act by which severe  pain  or  sufferingRead MoreTorture as a Strategy of War795 Words   |  3 PagesThe use of torture as a strategy of war is as old as war itself. Torture serves a number of different functions. One of those functions is punishment for crimes committed, and torture is still used in this way to some degree. Another one of the functions of torture is to extract information or confessions. It is this type of torture that Alan Dershowitz and Ken Roth claim was, and still is, being used in the war against terrorism. Although torture violates the principles of the Geneva ConventionRead MoreTorture Is A Violation Of Human Rights1337 Words   |  6 Pages In discussions of torture, one controversial issue has been if it is right to use torture to interrogate suspect terrorist (s) if they have information that can save civilian and military lives. 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One of the Roman’s torturing methods was crucifixionRead MoreTorture Is Necessary During Interrogation1513 Words   |  7 PagesCheney, proclaimed the CIA’s use of â€Å"enhanced interrogation techniques† such as wa terboarding, against a terror suspect by the name of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed helped produce intelligence that led the CIA to Bin Laden. Cheney argued it was a good and legal program and that it was not torture. The use of EITs has sparked a debate in the public about the means of using torture in order to maintain security in the nation (Blakeley 544). The discussion about the use of torture in extreme situations has progressedRead MoreTorture Is Inhumane Treatment Of Human Beings1253 Words   |  6 Pagesever permissible to torture a person 2 Torture is a topic that everyone has thought about or talked about at some point in their life. Many states have made it illegal to torture another person and have found it to be unconstitutional to treat someone this way. I do not feel that torture should be used on anybody no matter what the crime they committed. No one should be treated with such disrespect and humiliation just so the other person can get what they want. Torture is used to inflictRead MoreEthics Of Torture : Who Are We Really Hurting?990 Words   |  4 PagesTorture is a heinous crime to anyone who is put under the duress of those who either get enjoyment or use it as a device for information gathering. In recent years it has been more in use as a focal point with the recent killings of aid and social workers in the Middle East and travelers that enter North Korea to state a message or obtain information. If the rules of the Geneva Convention do not apply, then what rules do apply? Ethics of torture: who are we really hurting? ConflictRead MoreThe Moral Of Using Torture1108 Words   |  5 PagesThe Moral of Using Torture While torture is something some people would cringe at, others may approve of it as a useful tool. Is any government ever justified in using torture to gain information? Torture is defined as â€Å"the act of causing severe physical pain as a form of punishment or as a way to force someone to do or say something† (Merriam Webster 1). It has been used in various cultures throughout history such as China, Egypt, Iraq and many others, including modern America and VietnamRead MoreThe Concept Of Utilitarianism And Utilitarianism1216 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout history torture has been used in a variety of ways for many different reasons. Similar to trying to get information out of someone, or just for pure cynical satisfaction. Combining the subjects of torture and utilitarianism can cause a large moral dilemma. I believe that torture can be justified by the utilitarian principle, and the example given is acceptable. Yet, I believe that the concept of utilitarianism is idealistic but not realistic. Often related to utilitarianism is the termRead MoreSlavery Was Essential For The Economy Of The United States1695 Words   |  7 Pagesever justified? Anyone who disagrees with the statement that slavery is wrong, would be viewed as an evil person. To pose a different perspective: is torture every morally justified? Some may say yes, the rest would say no. Essentially, slavery was a type of torture when it existed. Incidentally, if a person thinks that torture is justified, then that person would also have to agree that slavery is morally acceptable. Slavery has devastated every person who has ever endured it, just as torture tears