Torture is wrong. Period.

Statement

Torture is wrong. Period.
by Mark Lawrence

I just read today that New York Times Bestselling Author Vince Flynn argued in favor of torturing detainees. The new Attorney General, Michael Mukasey, has stated that he does not believe waterboarding is torture. Running for re-election last year, Republican Congressman Lynn Westmoreland bragged that he "voted for torture."

The fact that there is even a debate about whether or not torture is justified and whether or not waterboarding (which is simulated drowning) is torture is a depressing indicator of how far the Bush administration has pushed this country to extremes.

Torture puts our troops at risk. One of the many reasons why the Geneva Convention is so important is that it protects American soldiers from being tortured if they are captured. Additionally, intelligence experts have shown that torture is an ineffective tactic for gathering necessary information.

I oppose the use of torture in all circumstances. It runs against the moral fiber of our country. And waterboarding is clearly a kind of torture. Torture is abhorrent in every way, shape, and form. Congress needs to make it clear that they will not tolerate this sort of betrayal of American values.

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