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Enhanced interrogation is hydra-headed

In response to the recent Senate Intelligence Committee report assessing the “enhanced interrogation” methods used at GITMO to extract “useful intelligence” from detainees, we have, not surprisingly, seen typical polarization between right-wing neo-cons and left-wing liberals. So what is there to be really said about the propriety of the reported interrogations?

On the one hand, it has to be weighed that Islamic fundamentalist terrorists are pathological – lacking utterly in conscience and thus believing entirely that their actions are justified. It has to be further weighed that jihadist groups or loners have the capability to inflict mass casualties among civilians. Accordingly, it can be maintained that these amoral extremists have cancelled any entitlement to just or moral treatment when they are brought into detention. Additionally, it can be maintained that any interrogation method that could obtain information that would compromise a devastating terrorist strike is permissible. This side of the issue would have claim to the position that there is nothing wrong with an “anything goes” approach to handling these detainees.

On the other hand, though, it has to be taken into full consideration that “enhanced interrogation” methods, once knowledge of them becomes public, has the counterproductive effects of hardening the resolve of terrorists and of attracting volunteers to their specious causes. This is to say that the methods used at GITMO amplify the motivations of terrorists and strengthen their ranks. This nasty syndrome is well documented – for example, in Northern Ireland, in Spain and (“as we speak”) in the Middle East.

A nasty dilemma to be sure – a win-win/lose-lose one, you could say.

Is there any resolution? What about resolving the issues to which terrorists attach, leech-like, to gain legitimacy among their supporters? Resolve the issues that stink in the Middle East, and these terrorists would find themselves isolated. Well, will such resolution ever happen? Having lived in the Middle East for 21 years, I have to say that I have my doubts.

Tom Wright

Aztec



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