Hi James M. Clark Professor of Psychology 204-786-9757 204-774-4134 Fax [email protected]
>>> "Mike Palij" <[email protected]> 18-Apr-09 10:46:11 AM >>> (4) It should be clear that the context, the "situation", in which the interrogations were made, supported the use of torture even though historically the U.S. has opposed its use and did not accept the "just following orders" explanation, as shown in the Nuremberg trials. One has to ask why did people feel that if their superiors justified the use of torture it was acceptable to use torture given our history and legal precedents? Has the system become so authoritarian (i.e., one has to submit to authority no matter how morally or intellecually objectionable it is) that it no longer admits to the possibility of error on the part of the people administering it? Have the people working at lower levels, actually interrogating detainees, been selected so that they would not question authority or express dissent? What happens when the system is filled with "Bruno Batta" types? For more info on Bruno Batta and other individuals who were noted by Milgram, see: JC: According to an article in the NYTimes, people on the ground in some of the interrogations expressed quite strongly the view that they thought they had extracted whatever they could from the person being questioned. It was the higher powers who ordered still more aggressive techniques in the belief the person had more information to offer (it appears nothing significant was forthcoming, consistent with Mike's earlier comments about ineffectiveness of torture). Article also refers to participation of psychologists formerly employed by military. So a couple of other pieces to the exercise: (1) distance / immediacy and willingness to administer pain again a la Milgram, and (2) ethics of psychologists being involved in such activities. See NY Times and Slate pieces at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/world/middleeast/18zubaydah.html?ref=todayspaper http://www.slate.com/id/2216507/ Take care Jim --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
