August 20, 2007
Psychologists Agree to Aid and Abet in Torture
What a bunch of complicitous cowards, or in this age of newspeak, "kinder, gentler" Josef Mengeles.
Secret (and not-so-secret) arrests, imprisonment and torture have become the hallmarks of U.S. policy and the American Psychological Association has overwhelmingly agreed to professionally profit, implement and observe egregious human rights abuses.
Arguing that psychologists must be present during interrogations:
"If we removed psychologists from these facilities, people are going to die..." -- Army Col. Larry James, former chief military psychologist Guantanamo Bay.
Yes, Colonel James, they will.
They already are.
But let's not mince words: by acting as an agent to keep people just at the brink on death, you are simply aiding and abeting in keeping them alive to be continually subjected to criminal activity.
Under the concept of aiding and abetting, it is not necessary...that a defendant himself physically committed the crime with which he is charged. [It is an] association with the criminal venture, participating in something one wished to bring about, and sought by actions to make it succeed.
I suppose the public is supposed to take comfort that the American Psychological Association "opposes torture."
That sounds very nice, but that doesn't mean the group is doing a damn thing to prevent it from happening.
- - -
U.S. acknowledges torture: Forbes
Priests Expose Secret Cycle of US Torture and are Arrested: CounterPunch
Bush Administration Suppresses Red Cross report on torture: Jurist Legal News and Research
Psychologists charge $1,000 a day to implement and observe interrogations: Raw Story
Posted August 20, 2007 07:35 AMAs both a victim of torture and as someone who is hoping to one day join this organization as a practicing member I have a unique perspective.
On the one hand I feel that anyone and everyone who condones, encourages, permits, or participates in torture should have the same done to them (with a little extra just as a lesson).
On the other, I understand that the APA is trying to keep people in these facilities to keep things from getting even worse. All the while trying not to encourage this bullshit from continuing.
It is hell on earth already in these places. I can't (or don't want to) imagine how much worse it would get if the few good people who are keeping what little shred of humanity in place were to leave.
Should we pull all the Imam's or the priests? Should we pull all the doctors? Who will be left to report on this?
The report outlawed pretty much everything but talking with suspects. It even went so far as to say that the methods currently in use are scientifically proven not to work.
It is a bad situation when the people we need to be there can't. When the people we need to leave won't.
And the people we need to listen, don't.
-- posted by: Frogspond on August 23, 2007 08:56 PM
