Comments on: How torture backfires

By: John P.

John P. — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:12:24 +0000

The implication that US and NATO involvement in the Balkans allowed the spread of muslim fundamentalism is simply false.

That is not what I said or even meant.

I simply pointed out that neither America nor NATO recieved any gratitude from the Muslim world for their decade-long efforts to protect Balkan muslims.

Not a penny of gratitude. Instead, the radicals payed us back with the USS Cole, the Kenyan bombings and 911.

It’s all one big ummah, Sarah. If Muslims the world over can express indignation at the oppression of Balkan Muslims, then surely they could express their gratitude to The West when those same Muslims are protected by western soldiers, some of whom were killed.

Then again, perhaps not.

By: George

George — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:29:34 +0000

At least just about everyone here agrees that torture is wrong. We could debate all day about whether America’s use of it is really a major factor in alienating people used to living under regimes where torture is a given. But surely it is obvious that it alienates a very significant proportion of Western public opinion. And surely it is equally obvious that the threat posed by Islamism cannot be effectively faced by the West if public opinion is not on board.

By: Tevya

Tevya — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:06:35 +0000

Fair point on the church dance, but it was being tortured in Nasser’s jails that really radicalised Qutb, and turned him into the nutter whose followers we are dealing with today.

By: Shatterface

Shatterface — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:23:05 +0000

Miliband has spoken out about the ‘war on terror’: how brave, attacking the outgoing President.

By: devorgilla

devorgilla — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:22:26 +0000

It’s not THAT you win that’s important; it’s also HOW you win.

(Otherwise you destroy the thing you love. What’s the point of that?)

By: Sea Kitten

Sea Kitten — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:04:15 +0000

Actually, this whole thing is utterly absurd. Let’s be clear that just three people were subjected to this mistreatment, which amounted to the kind of thing that army recruits go through in their basic training.

Furthermore, the official cited declared that it amounted to torture in the specific case of a man whose health was poor. In other words, if his health had been good, it might not be considered torture.

Furthermore, who are we trying to kid? That there’s no torture in the USA? Get real.

Finally, only the Left imagines that the problem with Muslim terrorism is rooted in Middle Eastern people not liking the USA enough, or that Arabs are shocked and offended by occasional mistreatment of detainees. Was it the sight of torture that led Qutb to denounce the West? Or was it a church dance? Or let me put it another way: did the attack on the WTC in 1993, or the attack in 2001, precede or follow the allegations of torture in Gitmo?

(One benefit of the Obama administration, should he ever actually get around to closing Gitmo, is that we will no longer have to put up with these kind of idiotic, herd-like analyses as to why our enemies have declared war on us and what our response should be.)

By: Koran9:29

Koran9:29 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:29:19 +0000

If Obama outlaws torture, will the US military be forced to stop torturing themselves? After all, many of the methods were specifically invented or refined for the SERE course so as not to do their volunteers any harm.

The military are no longer allowed to use racist words, even as terms of endearment. They’re not allowed to run harsh survival courses. They’re not allowed to shout at recruits in case they find it upsetting. They’re not allowed to frighten the animals with loud noises when hunting for sneaking submarines.

But at least they’ll be allowed to manlove one another.

Which will be really handy, should any of these ‘rights’ campaigners ever decide to join the army.

(PS. Nothing wrong with manlove, in the right circumstances. Ask the Muslims.)

By: hutchrun

hutchrun — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:24:59 +0000

“”””America and NATO spent the entire decade of the 1990s aiding, abetting and protecting Balkan Muslims.
But what did we get in return? “”””

A sex-o-phone prez and fallen Dutch govt?

By: hutchrun

hutchrun — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:19:49 +0000

Oh, there`s some good news-

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Pentagon said on Tuesday that 61 former detainees from its military prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, appear to have returned to terrorism since their release from custody.

By: Sarah Franco

Sarah Franco — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:03:16 +0000

“”"”America and NATO spent the entire decade of the 1990s aiding, abetting and protecting Balkan Muslims.

But what did we get in return? “”"”

Jonh P, for god sake, can you stop spreading lies about the Balkan Muslims?????

I will not even bother dismantling JP’s message.

The implication that US and NATO involvement in the Balkans allowed the spread of muslim fundamentalism is simply false.

I just would like to point that, in my perspective his comment falls in the category of promotion of fake information to promote hate. The peoples of the Balkan region have already problems enough, they don’t need their image to be tarnished by false information.