If we whack them with a wet fish, would that be skateboarding?

You only have to read history to see what gems we have let slip through our fingers to the benefit of others.

it's my opinion that several innocent people were taken by the Americans in the aftermath of 9/11 and that they were tortured and illegally imprisoned and indeed some remain imprisoned, without any word of explanation or need for justification. I say it's my opinion because no-one actually knows what is going on there.

Thank God we have habeas Corpus in this country.

And as for the burden of proof that the US uses, are they not the ones who had proof that Saddam Hussein had WMD?

Apparently he had a spud gun, not to mention some bic pens with the insides removed and a bag of pigeon peas.

What more do you want?

A good old fashioned debate, this is what we like to see.

OK then a question for you.

The British intelligence service catch a suspected Al-Qa'ida member.
They believe, he is a very high ranking member, who holds information about a forth coming terrorist attack on the UK.
This attack, if it happens, has the potential to kill hundreds, of people in one of our major cities.

Now during the questioning of this suspect, under the terms of the Geneva Convention, he tells the people asking the questions to FCUK off.
Now because of the Geneva Convention, there is nothing more that can be done.

Now what do we do?

How imminent is this terrorist attack? Keeping in mind that this facility has been open for 7 years.

And if these people are brainwashed to the point of suicide attacks then what is the point of torture.


And, supposedly, we're not barabarians in the west.

Its imminent, as in the next two weeks.
Forget Gauntanamo Bay. This is a suspect caught in this country.



Not everyone is mentally strong.



Who says?

The answer to this is simple.
Force him to eat my wife’s cooking and watch recordings of Big Brother.

He will soon be begging for a flight to Guantanamo Bay for a bit of water boarding.

And what about the people who admit to things they haven't done under torture just to make it stop?

If enemies of ours believe they are going to be tortured when captured it is only going to make them fight harder.

another very valid point I wish I had thought of

A very simple question to the liberal softies on here. Like Guess W ho I believe that by any means possible terrorist attacks must be stopped in war and this is a war sadly but true innocents get caught up in it, this is not justifying it but stating a fact. The main reason for the war on terror was the 9\11 unprovoked attack by muslims hence the invasron of Afghanistan. If the terrorists think they may get tortured whether or not it happens the message must be clear anyone that thinks we should be analysing them are in my mind somewhat deluded if they think it makes us safer.

you started off by saying a simple question, but I can't see a question in there.

Re torture..

I once saw a television programme called "Karachi Cops". It was a fly-on-the-wall documentary following the Pakistani Police.

They had a suspected car thief in custody who wouldn't confess. So they made him stand with his arms outstretched and every time he lowered them he was struck with a riding crop type instrument.

Eventually he confessed and the "interrogating" officer looked at the camera with a wry smile and declared, "see, I told you he was guilty".

I nearly cried with embarrasment.

I agree with your summary but I don't think interrogators of terrorists are after that type of answer. I would assume that they want more detailed information that can be cross referenced and corroborated. The dangers are:
1) They try to force the answer that they seek.
2) The terrorists have pre prepared and deeply engrained fall back stories.

Interrogation is a science of techniques from the brutal and physical to the sophisticated psychological and "chemical". Interrogators have to be highly skilled to get true answers.

What you saw in "Karachi Kops" clearly fell under 1)