re: #34 HappyWarrior

I believe I remember reading that we convicted Axis war criminals for waterboarding after WWII. I actually wrote a paper on torture some years back arguing that we needed to improve our intelligence and not resist the temptation to torture. I even quoted John McCain before he flopped on the issue and a West Point grad. You know guys who actually understand torture rather than some armchair torture porn freaks who think real life is like a TV show.

This is true. I’ve gotten into a few online debates on the subject (not going to find the links right now) but here’s what I know

Americans have prosecuted Americans for torture in the past. During the Vietnam War there was a picture published (I think in the NYT) showing an American soldier waterboarding a captive. Keep in mind, this incident was done immediately on the battlefield, presumably to get information that would save American lives as quickly as possible. Didn’t matter. The soldier was dishonorably discharged. Not quite sure if he was ever prosecuted as I don’t think the soldiers name was ever released.

I also recall an incident in the Philippines I believe in the ‘50’s. Americans torturing their captives were court martialed.

I also recall punishment being doled out for torture during the Civil War and the Revolutionary War.

The thing is, America doesn’t torture. We never have, and when it’s been found that we are we have punished those responsible. There is precedent on this and it is peppered in throughout American history…..that all stopped with the Bush Administration