Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Poll finds broad approval of terrorist torture

MSNBC reported Most Americans and a majority of people in Britain, France and South Korea say torturing terrorism suspects is justified at least in rare instances, according to AP-Ipsos polling.

And yet the bill that McCain is pushing is not to ban torture (which we have said we don't do), but cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Saddam did not show up for court today because he did not have clean underwear (I guess the earlier testamony caused him to soil his), and his co-defendents complained they had not been given cigarettes, coffee, or tea. I guess any of those could be called "degrading".
The United States has drawn criticism from human rights groups and many governments, especially in Europe, for its treatment of terror suspects. President Bush and other top officials have said the U.S. does not torture, but some suspects in American custody have alleged they were victims of severe mistreatment. The polling, in the United States and eight of its closest allies, found that in Canada, Mexico and Germany people are divided on whether torture is ever justified. Most people opposed torture under any circumstances in Spain and Italy.

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