Re: torture
Alan Moore (AMOORE@OREGON.UOREGON.EDU)
Tue, 11 Apr 1995 18:04:30 -0500
Major Martel is undoubtedly correct about the curriculum at the SOA. However,
that is largely beside the point. Discussions of subjects such as torture go
on as aside comments or in non-structured fora. For example, in my training,
we were lucky enough to listen to a British major give us an extended 15 minute
lecture off the cuff on the benefits of knee-capping (shooting someone in the
knee) of "terrorists" (complete with supposed examples from his work for peace
and democracy in Northern Ireland). The U.S. Army is also generally (but not
always) careful to not perform, or be present for the performance of, torture.
Example, when subjects are judged in need of "stress debriefing" (which is the
term we used and is more professional than the emotionally charged "torture"
don't you think?) U.S. Army personel are careful not to be present and allow
our counterparts in other nations armed forces do what is deemed required.
So to an extent I agree with Major Martel, we must be more accurate in our
critiques of the continued work of the U.S. military vis-a-vis Latin America.
This accuracy will only help us work to combat those who would hide the true
nature of the U.S. military activities.
Alan Moore
amoore@oregon.uoregon.edu