Is waterboarding torture?

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Archaea

I don't know what a war crime is. What are you using as a standard?

That term seems to be invented by the winners to execute the leaders of the opposition.

Are you asking is torture wrong? Yes.

Are you asking if those who do it, should receive extra punishment as opposed to those who merely kill?

Are you using the term to state, somebody maybe exceeding the rules of war as generally accepted by "civilized" nations?

I'm not naive to the term but its usaage seems quite political and not always motivated by the good will of men.

Words are important. You will note that the Bush admin called torture "harsh methods" or "enhanced methods". I.e. euphemisms for torture. The media followed suit re: terminology. Now the media (some at least) has started using the world "torture" to describe the acts.

So I'm taking the exact opposite view. You say the word torture is not beign used politically. I say its use was avoided because of politics.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Words are important. You will note that the Bush admin called torture "harsh methods" or "enhanced methods". I.e. euphemisms for torture. The media followed suit re: terminology. Now the media (some at least) has started using the world "torture" to describe the acts.

So I'm taking the exact opposite view. You say the word torture is not beign used politically. I say its use was avoided because of politics.

You switched from "torture" to "war crimes", stay on the same page.

Is every act of torture tantamount to a war crime which should be punished and prosecuted?

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Archaea

You switched from "torture" to "war crimes", stay on the same page.

Is every act of torture tantamount to a war crime which should be punished and prosecuted?

I asked that because the USA has prosecuted war crimes where the offence was waterboarding.

Are we to take the position that waterboarding is not torture, but yet a war crime?

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I asked that because the USA has prosecuted war crimes where the offence was waterboarding.

Are we to take the position that waterboarding is not torture, but yet a war crime?

I would submit not all torture should be prosecuted as a war crime.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by Archaea

I would submit not all torture should be prosecuted as a war crime.

I mean should listening to Rosanne Barr sing the national anthem, which is torture, be considered worthy of a war crime?