Another shining example...

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by Delvo

All irrelevant to the modern situation. Past users of such methods didn't have scientific, statistical studies about the effectiveness, and might not have cared if their motivation was something other than getting information. (It was usually punishment, intimidation of third parties, and such.)

By no means irrelevant -- which is why I brought it up in connection with the ability to deny factual evidence that goes contrary to what one wishes to believe. And yes, they did have plenty of evidence that such was not viable -- many a book was written on the subject, people were exiled, banished, and executed for arguing that it wasn't reliable, was inhumane, and morally reprehensible. (Reginald Scott's Discoverie of Witchcraft [1584] being a prime example... a book that got banned and burned once James I wore the crown. According to the evidence, Scott would have suffered the same fate had he not died 4 years before James' accession.)

Dave is right. It's more a matter of appearing to be doing something, rather than getting genuine results. Appearances are much, much more important in politics -- vide all the hullaballoo we see and hear every time Social Security, Tax Reform, or the National Deficit are brought up. Also, it's easier than other methods; it takes less thought, and less effort. (I'd also argue that it ties into that primitive desire for revenge and power over one's enemies, but that one would take an entirely new thread, at least.) Suffice to say that the patterns haven't changed since time immemorial when it comes to justifying acts of cruelty in the name of noble causes. Evidence or no evidence, people practice what they want to believe, not what has a basis in reality.

[mosaix]

If Bush thinks that water-boarding isn't torture then, presumably, he wouldn't mind Al-Qaeda using the technique on captured American troops?

BTW British Intelligence are on record as saying that intelligence from countries such as Jordan, who don't employ torture, is far more reliable than from other middle-eastern countries who do.