General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy are torturers being given “balance” in the press?
After the publication of the torture report, the torturers and their enablers have been all over the airwaves defending themselves and the use of enhanced interrogation techniques. These techniques included horrific acts of rape, threatening family members with rape and death, suspension from ceilings and walls for days on end, forcing prisoners to soil themselves in diapers, and various forms of psychological torture including sleep and sensory deprivation. In many cases the people being tortured had done nothing wrong and had no information of value.
There is simply no defense for any of this. None. It gave us actionable intelligence isnt a defense. It happens to be untrue. We know that torture doesnt produce valuable information, and it didnt produce valuable information in any of these cases, either. But it doesnt matter if it worked or not. Cutting the hands off of thieves works wonders to reduce theft, but we dont do that. A moral people does not do these things. Were not as bad they are isnt a defense, either. Thats not the standard by which a moral people judges itselfand besides, most of the rest of the industrialized world does hold itself to a higher standard, despite also being victimized by Islamist terror attacks.
This stuff is obvious. And yet the TV shows and newspaper stories are full of balance given to the pro-torture side. Why? Despite objections to the contrary, journalists do not always give balance to both sides of an argument if the other side is deemed irrelevant or depraved. Whenever the deficit bugbear rolls to the forefront, almost no balance is given to the Keynesian point of view despite their predictions being consistently correct: the idea that one neednt actually cut the deficit during a recession is treated as so outre as to require no journalistic attention.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_12/why_are_torturers_being_provid053308.php
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)then it's only fair that we get to hear someone defend the position that 2 + 2 = 5.
Bragi
(7,650 posts)- One person would say 2+2=5
- Another would say 2+2=3
- A third panelist would say 2+2 maybe = 4, but it's a matter of opinion
- The Moderator would thank everyone for coming and make a joke
The viewer would be considered an informed voter.
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)I hope one of Jon Stewart's researchers is reading this thread as that would make a nice comedy scene.
hughee99
(16,113 posts)their argument look weaker. Like the president says, "please proceed".
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)The M$M are catapulting the message their owners - the tenth-percenters and New Fascists - want catapulted and they do it 24/7/365. That is the ONLY thing they do. It is the sole reason for their existence.
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)"and we'll have to leave it at that?"
SamKnause
(13,101 posts)and main stream media are bought and paid for.
I stopped listening to them years ago.
Independent news sources are not making excuses for these war mongers and torturers.
They have been calling them out and condemning them for years.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)Unfortunately, that is not likely to happen.
I would not be surprised if the next Senate and House voted to give all those who participated in "Enhanced Interrogation" programs a shiny medal of patriotism.