Who we Torture

The ongoing torture debate, and present disgust at making types of torture legal, seems to be missing the point in my opinion. So let me concede some of the more absurd points which proponents of torture make. Let me concede, no matter how absurd it truly is, that torture works. Let me concede the intel we get from torture is actionable, and that it can prevent the next type of the death which the purveyor is known for. Let me concede all of that. I still think, even with that, we miss the point. The point is who we torture? What safeguards are in place to determine that? What balance is there to the selection criteria?

Let's throw it open. Assume we concede that the "known ______" means we have one of these sons of bitches in our cell and we believe they may know about the next event... I ask you:

All in favor of torturing known Al-Qaeda operatives stand... those not in favor, remain seated.

Of those standing, all in favor of torturing known Iranian Qod Force operatives please remain standing... those not in favor, please be seated.

Of those standing, all in favor of torturing known Irish Republican Army operatives please remain standing... those not in favor, please be seated.

Of those standing, all in favor of torturing known abortion clinic bombers please remain standing... those not in favor, please be seated.

Of those standing, all in favor of torturing known Ku Klux Klansmen please remain standing... those not in favor, please be seated.

Of those standing, all in favor of torturing known street gang members please remain standing... those not in favor, please be seated.

Of those standing, all in favor of torturing known child molesters please remain standing... those not in favor, please be seated.

Of those standing, all in favor of torturing known armed robbers please remain standing... those not in favor, please be seated.

Of those standing, all in favor of torturing known drug dealers please remain standing... those not in favor, please be seated.

Of those standing, all in favor of torturing known drunk drivers please remain standing... those not in favor, please be seated.

Of those standing, all in favor of torturing known cigarrette manufacturers please remain standing... those not in favor, please be seated.

Still standing? Well, don't forget that smoking kills 400K people a year in the US. Now are you still standing? If you weren't, would you like to? 400K people. Fewer people would die in a chemical, biological, or rudimentary suitcase nuke attack. And yet this happens every single year. I feel the same way about torture as I do the death penalty... if we're gonna have this evil, let's fucking use it where it will help most. If not, let's live like honest people.