Waterboarding is Torture Essay - 1130 Words

A patrol team from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division is responsible for searching suspected insurgent hideouts, capturing enemy combatants and bringing them in for questioning. On July 28th, 2011 the patrol team was in the city of Bagdad, Iraq when a roadside bomb takes out the first two vehicles in the convoy killing four soldiers. They immediately pull to the side of the road and take cover as the rest of the convoy comes under small arms fire. A long fight pursues, but the patrol team is able to disarm the insurgents and take them captive. The next day, back at camp, the platoon leader puts several soldiers from the patrol team in charge of interrogating one of the suspects. He explains the technique he wants used to obtain this†¦show more content†¦A rag is placed over their face to simulate darkness. Water is then poured over the rag, producing a lack of oxygen and inducing fear that makes the individual believe that they are going to die by drowning. In the event the person refuses to give up any information, they may be coerced to cooperate by using this extreme interrogation technique. In the weekly journal â€Å"Time U.S.†, the article â€Å"Waterboarding: A Mental and Physical Trauma† highlights the after-effects by people who have endured the traumatic experience of waterboarding. This is an utterly terrifying event, says Allen Keller, the director of the Bellevue/New York University School of Medicine Program for Survivors of Torture. Psychologically this can result in significant long-term post-traumatic stress, and produce anxiety and depression.† (Waterboarding: A Mental As Well As Physical Trauma - TIME.† N.p., n.d.) Allen Keller goes on to essentially refute claims that a subject intuitively understands that there is no real jeopardy, just discomfort by saying that there is a significant difference between waterboarding a subject during a training event and actual practice. In training, a student trusts that they will not be hurt. In contrast, a detainee has no such guarantee; therefore, the fear is a heightened reality. Many would believe that torture is considered an act that would only cause physical pain. However, physical punishment alone does notShow MoreRelatedArgumentative Essay On Waterboarding1071 Words   |  5 Pagesrecent waterboarding of prisoners of war, detainees and enemy combatants by the United States government has garnered much attention and debate. Some of main topics in this on-going debate include: Is waterboarding torture? Is it legal? Is it moral? What are the repercussions and possible reciprocal action of our enemies because of this waterboarding? This paper does not provide an argument for or against water boarding in and of itself but lays out a defense for the legality of waterboarding as wasRead MorePersuasive Essay On Torture929 Words   |  4 Pages The practice of torture by United States officials has become one of the most controversial elements of military history. The debate of its use in gathering intelligence has been particularly prevalent since the Bush administration. Most recently, a detailed and graphic scene of torture was presented in the movie Zero Dark Thirty. Proponents for the use of torture state that it is necessary for intelligence gathering and that ethics should be waved aside. Opponents argue that it is not becomingRead MoreUnited States Of Americ A Human Rights Defender For A Long Time Around The Global785 Words   |  4 Pages The United States of America had been known as a human rights defender for a long time around the global, but with the brutal torture actions performed by the Central Intelligence Agency, human rights that the America defended for so long seems to be questionable. Is it ok to violate international/ US laws as long as it benefits us? Moreover, does the so-called â€Å"enhanced† interrogation as effective as the CIA claims which helped gather valuable information from detainees that successfully help stoppedRead MoreAnalysis Of The Film Zero Dark Thirty 1122 Words   |  5 PagesThe film â€Å"Zero Dark Thirty† portrays the usage of torture being used to acquire information, which media enhances this torture to be favorable. 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It has been used in various cultures throughout history such as China, Egypt, Iraq and many others, including modern America and VietnamRead MoreTorture Is Morally Justified?875 Words   |  4 Pages Torture interrogation has been used throughout history, more so recently at Guantanamo Bay with suspected terrorists. The big question is, are the answers that are obtained through torture interrogation reliable, and whether torture is morally justified? The purpose of this document is to explain what torture interrogation is, why it may be used, how it’s done, and how it affects reliability. To begin, torture is the intentional infliction of severe pain or suffering, both physically andRead MoreThe War On Terror Of Terrorism1384 Words   |  6 Pagesterrorists, pushes the boundaries of torture. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines â€Å"torture† 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† (â€Å"Torture†). However, in Alicia Shepherd’s article, Harsh Interrogation Techniques or Torture?, she indicates there is â€Å"no clear consensus on what constitutes torture† (Shepard). Yet while many still classify the techniques use by the CIA as actions of torture, that isn’t the phrase that isRead MoreEconomic Benefits Of Maternity Leave1558 Words   |  7 Pagescom, â€Å"Many against waterboarding as an illegal practice,.† Lauren Carroll, January 16, 2017 USAToday.com,â€Å"Waterboarding Didnt Work, Committee Report Finds.† Tom Vanden Brook, 10 Dec. 2014, Summary: Trump quote: â€Å"I would bring back waterboarding, and I’d bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding,† Donald Trump believes that the US is not demonstrating its strength enough in the fight against ISIS. One of his suggested solutions as president is to revive waterboarding. Former presidentRead MoreThe Economic Benefits Of Paid Leave1616 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"Many against waterboarding as an illegal practice,.† Lauren Carroll, January 16, 2017 USAToday.com,â€Å"Waterboarding Didnt Work, Committee Report Finds.† Tom Vanden Brook, December 10, 2014 Summary: Trump quote: â€Å"I would bring back waterboarding, and I’d bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding,† Donald Trump believes that the US is not demonstrating its strength enough in the fight against ISIS. One of his suggested solutions as president is to revive waterboarding. Former presidentRead MoreThe United States War On Terror1158 Words   |  5 Pagesforefront of the nation’s agenda. This emergent wave of conflict required a different strategy than the those of the past because of the unorthodox nature of the opponent. One of the major innovations fostered by the â€Å"War on Terror† was the expansion of torture. The dramatic rise in terrorism sparked the unethical advancement of interrogation techniques in order to more effectively acquire information. The emergence of the â€Å"War on Terror† required government officials acquire intelligence in a new way thus