I decided that I wouldn't post anything until I had something nice to say. Here goes.
Bravo to Obama for ending the "enhanced interrogations". Never mind that they were ended by Bush in 2005. Obama is a little late, that's all. But if he wants to make sure they don't continue, that's fine with me.
Not that I believe enhanced interrogations don't work. Evidence is that they do. And I'm not necessarily against some of the techniques when needed. And in no way do I believe that these are torture.
HOWEVER! In 1994, we signed an international agreement on eliminating the use of these techniques. The Senate passed it. Even if we believe they are OK morally and that they work, WE MUST ABIDE BY THE TREATY!
We are a nation of laws and must obey the laws that we ascribe to. If we wish to not abide by it, then we need to rescind it and be willing to suffer the international backlash.
A wise man said over 3000 years ago that a righteous man keeps his vows, even when they hurt him. The same applies to nations. We as a nation vowed to not allow these types of interrogation techniques, and we have to abide by that vow, even if it means loss of life.
Is there another way? Call for an international conference on terrorism and update our stance to take the moral high ground--that is, recognize that saving innocent lives is more important than causing temporary discomfort of someone who wants to destroy us.
