Friday, October 05, 2007
Big Brother
According to president Bush, "This government does not torture people. We stick to U.S. law and our international obligations." (referring "The memos, first disclosed Thursday by the New York Times, condoned interrogation techniques such as head slapping and simulated drowning. "
When I was a kid we used to torment others (thankfully there were others further down the foodchain than me - tho' not by much) by using statements like the above. A friend of mine would take someone's hat, and hand it to me. When the victim tried to find the hat, my friend could truthfull state that he didn't have it and I could truthfully state, that I didn't take it.
While I have no doubt that Bush feels the statement he made is true, how hard would it be to find some non-citizen from Romania or Israel or Iraq who would be more than happy to beat the hell out of a suspect while US officials either watched - or perhaps went for a cup of coffee while it was going on. And you know? Sometimes that's OK. If John Doe planted a bomb in an elementary school or knew where one was, would I have any qualms about somebody slapping him around to find it before it blew up 134 kids? Nope. But you'd better make damn sure you're beating up the right John Doe.
Labels: crime, government
