This argument is pointless. America's actions have already proven the morality (or lack thereof) of the politicians involved in this senseless torturing of what turned out to be many innocent "prisoners of war." The politicians were not looking for the true terrorists involved in 9/11, but wanted to look like they are doing SOMETHING so they can get the votes and stay in office. This (racial profiling to calm the citizens of America down) happened before, like during the Cold War when Americans were arresting "Commies," when America made concentration camps for Japanese citizens, etc. Nothing changes.
The reason why I said that this argument is pointless is because neither sides - the side supporting torture and the side against torture - are going to prove to the other side that they are right. We picked our sides for a legitimate reason and it is going to stay that way for the majority of the people.
All I can say is that our personal opinion and actions will show to others where our conscience and personal values lie in. Those who say that they are good, moral Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc. and still support torturing people to protect their neck and other people are just bullshitting themselves (sry for the language). If you needed to resort to torture like waterboarding to help people, you lost. The very thing you wanted to protect from "terrorists" - freedom, equality, liberty, etc. - becomes meaningless when you need to humiliate and torture your "prisoners of war." Instead of being the protector of freedom, you become just another scared little boy wanting to protect himself from those who started the fight.
Btw, there was a recent book from a man who was one of the interrogators in Afghanistan and showed that those who used the methods mentioned in the OP did not get anything useful. In fact, if anything, they became more resistant to talk and sometimes let out false information. Those treated with respect and kindness actually gave out useful information and methods that uses respect and kindness proved to be very useful. Of course, I'm sure you all knew that, right?
Explanation of sig:
I am a Pakistani.....my name is Dan....how hard is that? (Don't ask about the 101...apparantely there are more of me out there....)
