1. Jill Stiemsma Introduction to Ethics Monday, 8:30

2.  Geneva Convention definition of Torture: “Any act by which severe pain and suffering whether physical or mental is intentionally inflicted”  US Definition: “Pain … must be equivalent in intensity to the pain accompanying serious physical injury, such as organ failure, impairment of bodily function, or even death.”

3.  Reputable organizations (such as Human Rights Watch and the Int’l Red Cross) have reported US abuse of prisoners despite Bush Administration claims to the contrary  “Dozens of prisoners have died in US custody”

4.  Public doesn’t seem to care (Poll: 65% of Americans approved its use against terrorist suspects)  Avoid a “ticking bomb”  Such techniques can work: Abu Zubaydah “became compliant” after just 35 seconds of waterboarding

5.  We’re no better than the “bad guys”: We’ve trained the troops involved with rape, torture and execution  We’ve moved 230 suspects to 40 countries where interrogations include torture and threats to family members

6.  Get false confessions  Lose public trust (at home and abroad): Germany indicted 13 American operatives believed responsible for the kidnapping and 5-month torture of one of its citizens  Justifies becoming even “sleazier,” e.g., using “sensory deprivation”

7.  Torture of the Innocent Video Clip Video Clip  Disastrous consequences for the Constitution – and the country

8.  Exactly how many suspects has the US squired away?  How can we acquire the hard evidence needed to adequately evaluate the problem?  Have terrorist attacks been alleviated because of our stance on torture?  Could traditional interrogation methods be just – or more – effective?

9. Benefits:  Quickly get desired information  Scare suspects into informing  Save untold lives  Obtain information we might not otherwise get Costs:  Get fallacious information  Lose respect of other nations  Trample constitutional rights  Turns us into the bad guys

10.  The right to protect ourselves from terrorist acts  Right to mistreat unscrupulous individuals who wouldn’t be the least concerned about us  The right to due process under the law  The right to expect US to honor treaty obligations  Right to humane treatment

11.  Are we becoming “wimpy,” unable to defend ourselves in the name of being “nice”?  Protecting National Security  Humaneness: Otherwise, what’s the point of a democracy?  Protecting Personal Security: Isn’t everyone entitled to know s/he won’t be tortured/ disappeared?

12.  Support Bush Administration’s approach  Join local peace initiative  Join annual protests at Ft. Benning  Personally meet with Senators and Representative  Investigate related organizations to repeal current Torture Lawrelated organizations

13.  Join annual protests at Ft. Benning  Personally meet with Senators and Representative  Investigate related organizationsrelated organizations

14.  Get off my duff – issue is too critical to remain silent  I was especially impacted by Wolfendale’s comment: “Establishing the institutions required to sustain such well-honed practice is fraught with perils that the utilitarian would condemn, all things considered”