Enhanced Interrogation Pros And Cons

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In today’s America, the issue regarding the use of the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) enhanced interrogation techniques is a controversial topic. For some, the use of these techniques is what they would deem torture, while others feel it is a small price to pay for freedom. It has been argued that these techniques are morally wrong, insufficient, and go against the Geneva Conventions. At what point, as Americans, do we stop being so “politically correct”, take a stand, and remember “freedom isn’t free.” Following the attack of 9/11, President George W. Bush approved the use of ten enhanced interrogation techniques in order to obtain information or confessions. “By design, the aggressive interrogation techniques are intended to instill …show more content…
Torture, by definition, “is the act of causing severe physical pain as a form of punishment or as a way to force someone to do or say something” (“Torture”). As stated earlier, these techniques are not meant to cause severe pain. Enhanced interrogations succeed at allowing interrogators to inflict some discomfort and a low-level of pain ("Debate: Enhanced Interrogation Techniques"). Richard Posner argues that “there is such a thing as a lesser wrong committed to avoid a greater one. There is such a thing as fighting fire with fire, and it is an apt metaphor for the use of torture and other extreme measures when nothing else will avert catastrophe” ("Torture: A Collection"). Should we even question morality, if the extreme interrogation of one man could save the lives of …show more content…
Bush signed Executive Order 13440, which states “I determine for the United States that members of al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces are unlawful enemy combatants who are not entitled to the protections that the Third Geneva Convention provides to prisoners of war” (Bush, George W.). The original Geneva Convention is one of a series of agreements concerning the treatment of prisoners of war and of the sick, wounded, and dead in battle first made at Geneva, Switzerland in 1864 and subsequently accepted in later revisions by most nations ("Geneva Convention"). The Third Geneva Convention, Convention (III), is relative to the treatment of prisoners of war and was established on August 12, 1949 ("Treaties, States Parties and Commentaries"). It has been said that some Americans feel the interrogation of terrorists goes against the terms stated in the Geneva Conventions regarding the treatment of prisoners and this treatment makes the Americas image look immoral. However, a few of our enemies also fall under the same terms of the Geneva Conventions. Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and the Syrian Arab Republic are all ratified, meaning they have agreed to these rules as well ("Treaties, States Parties and Commentaries”). Two days after taking office, President Barrack Obama signed Executive Order 13491, revoking Executive Order 13440. This also included the closing of all detention facilities operated by the Central Intelligence