Land of Oz

We aren't them.

This article is the kind of tactic that a government uses that really pisses me off. Euphemisms, double-talk and newspeak ala Orwell. They aren't doctors while they are administering to prisoners, they're "behavioral scientists." They say "medical personnel 'were not driving the interrogations' but were there as consultants." Also, The guidelines include prohibitions against doctors' participating in abusive treatment, but they all make an exception for "lawful" interrogations. And we all know that the White House has made just about anything "lawful" since they are dealing with people outside any regulations or treaties.

Now let me address some of the other issues here. Especially the way that certain prisoners are being treated. Sleep deprivation, threats with dogs, handcuffed to walls and spending the night bound on a cold floor are all tortures to me. I don't care what frosting you try to cover this with, it's torture. We bitched when China and North Korea did things like to our guys, but now it's OK for use to do. Yes - they did worse. They beat, bound, maimed and otherwise severely tortured our guys. But that doesn't make it right for us to do the same.

We aren't them. That to me is the whole idea of the USofA. Let me emphasize that We aren't them. Yes, they do behead people -- they rape and shoot people in the head -- they blow up innocent men, women and children -- they are indeed bloodthirsty, savage and reprehensible creatures who don't deserve the title of human. BUT, we aren't them.

We aren't always the good guys in white hats who come riding out of the sunrise to save the town from the bandits. We aren't that good. We try, but we have our faults. But that doesn't mean we have to stoop to the depraved depths they do. Yes, that handicaps us in some ways, but that's the way it is. We need to keep to the high road. If they're are terrorist and we have proof - execute them or keep them locked up until hell freezes over, but don't torture them - they do the torturing. We don't.

We need to get our international shit together and Guantánamo isn't helping. Close it down or open it up, but do something. We aren't them.