re: #374 haakondahl

Similar to the de-rating of torture. It is unconscionable that the word itself has been so diluted, and in an official sense no less, as to indicate embarassment or discomfort. What word then shall be reserved for those whose bodies were mutilated and broken in captivity? For this is certainly not the same thing that we are now “debating” in the context of legal or illegal actions on the part of the United States government.

The real problem with torture, as the issue now stands, is that there is no clear definition of what constitutes torture. This leaves the topic wide open to any sort of interpretation one side wishes to put forward that is most detrimental to the other side.

If the Democrats are concerned about torture and about ensuring that the United States never engages in torture, they ought to be working day and night constructing a usable definition of the term and enacting laws that demand compliance with that definition. Do you see any of them doing anything even a little bit like that? No, of course not. Because that would eliminate their ability to whine, accuse and grandstand over the nebulous non-definition that now exists, and it would automatically exonerate any acts committed prior to the enactment of such laws, since the Constitution forbids ex post facto lawmaking. While it would absolutely be the right thing to do if there was real concern over forbidding the use of torture, you won’t see anyone actually taking that step, ever.

Example: a useful way to bring any accusations that torture was committed by the US is to simply ask the question, “How do you define torture?” This will bring the discussion to a screeching halt, because there is no definition that is even a little bit useful that fits most of the acts committed, or that doesn’t lead immediately to the conclusion that holding prisoners at all is permissible.

So, to the Dems: put up, or shut up. If you’re really serious about this issue, it’s up to you to define and implement procedures and laws for unambiguously recognizing and punishing it when it occurs. Let’s see you shut your yaps and do some actual work, for a change.