Comments on: Dwight Fetterman (FGCU) The Formerly Secret “Secret Memos” http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/04/19/dwight-fetterman-fgcu-the-formerly-secret-secret-memos/ Sat, 19 May 2012 18:07:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Mr. Andoscia http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/04/19/dwight-fetterman-fgcu-the-formerly-secret-secret-memos/#comment-1333 Mr. Andoscia Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:51:37 +0000 http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/04/19/dwight-fetterman-fgcu-the-formerly-secret-secret-memos/#comment-1333 In fact, the opposite is the case. All of these methods are legally designed as torture by international treaty. Treaties that the United States has signed on to and are, therefore, legally binding by virtue of our own Constitution. That the administration is doing nothing to reverse the very policies that they are bringing into the open has more to say about power than it does the validity of the claim. That one man, a legal scholar, claims that these methods are not harmful either psychologically or physically is pretty thin considering the vast array of research from "psychologists" and "physiologists" to the contrary. Also, what about the social harm done by using these techniques. The key criticism from the military, including top Pentagon officials, is that such methods encourage our enemies to use the same techniques (or worse) on American captives. How does this impact the legitimacy of a standing army in an otherwise sovereign nation like Iraq, and how does this translate to the legitimacy of a shoestring government propped up by that army? I'm afraid I cannot concur with your opinion on many grounds here. In fact, the opposite is the case. All of these methods are legally designed as torture by international treaty. Treaties that the United States has signed on to and are, therefore, legally binding by virtue of our own Constitution.

That the administration is doing nothing to reverse the very policies that they are bringing into the open has more to say about power than it does the validity of the claim.

That one man, a legal scholar, claims that these methods are not harmful either psychologically or physically is pretty thin considering the vast array of research from “psychologists” and “physiologists” to the contrary.

Also, what about the social harm done by using these techniques. The key criticism from the military, including top Pentagon officials, is that such methods encourage our enemies to use the same techniques (or worse) on American captives. How does this impact the legitimacy of a standing army in an otherwise sovereign nation like Iraq, and how does this translate to the legitimacy of a shoestring government propped up by that army?

I’m afraid I cannot concur with your opinion on many grounds here.

]]>