Kinder, Friendlier Torture

On July 20, 2007, President Bush signed an order barring "extreme" forms of torture when interrogating terror suspects. Of course, in stating what would no longer be allowed (exposure, "waterboarding", sexual abuse), he didn't nail down exactly what forms were allowed, leaving that door wide open to numerous possibilites--limited only by the imagination. And as history has proven, when it comes to sadism, some people can be quite creative.

To further drive home this point, the GOP bill specifically states that the president can "interpret the meaning and application" of the Geneva Convention detailing less severe forms of torture.

I'm not sure which is more disturbing, the fact the Bush administration thinks this kind of secretive, platitude-laced action is "normal", or the fact there isn't more of an outcry from the public over it. Which issue should be addressed first: that our President thinks nothing of keeping us in the dark over an issue that should be of nation-wide concern, or that he barred some forms of extreme torture while closing his eyes to the all-too-possible introduction of other, equally extreme measures?

Not to mention many of the detainees still haven't received a trial, having been told they'll die in Guantanamo before ever receiving one. The fact they aren't American citizens should have no bearing on attempts to find the truth. Isn't that what trials are for?

When exactly did this country lose its sense of decency? Are they afraid to tell us what they're doing for fear of humanitarian groups crying out? Maybe that's because they shouldn't be doing it. Understandably, the subject of terrorism will stir some strong emotions in all of us, and I'm no exception. There is, admittedly, a part of me who would like nothing more than to see terrorists suffer horribly for their crimes, and I have no warm feelings for the men currently being detained at Abu Ghraib. But that's just why we need to avoid such cruelty. Repaying like for like has started wars in the past, and humanity hasn't progressed much since.

Some of Bush's critics have compared his administration to that of the paranoia-infused Nixon era. Between the wiretapping scandal, secretive staff firings and now this textual monument to double-talk, I'm beginning to see their point.