Scott Lucas on BBC1 TV "The Big Questions": Is Torture Ever Justified?

I thought this morning's live discussion "Is Torture Ever Justified?" on BBC1's The Big Questions raised some important points, especially given the limited time (25 minutes) available and the initial attempt to frame the question around the "ticking bomb" scenario.

It was a particular pleasure to talk with Moazzam Begg (pictured), who was detained and tortured in Afghanistan's Camp Bagram before being moved to Guantanamo Bay. He is now working with CagePrisoners, an organisation raising the cases of and providing assistance to detainees around the world.

The programme is available until next Sunday on the BBC iPlayer.

Comments

[Edward]

It sounded as if there was something just short of a standing ovation at your first comments.

[Dave]

On America's credibility, rule of law, democracy -- The United States has used torture long before Gitmo and post 9-11 outsourcing to other countries. With espionage cases during the 'cold war', suspects were both tortured and executed.

What makes Gitmo and the 'war on terror' any different? Did torture and executions not hurt America's credibility as 'leader of the free world', and champion of democracy and human rights during the second half of the 20th century?

[Sam Ali Sheikh]

To rephrase the question [Is Torture Ever Justified?], ‘should the state retain the moral high ground at the cost of one-or-more innocent lives?’,

OR

“Would one be rather be ‘dead on their high horse on the moral high ground’ or act to save lives by coercion of the wicked cowards deluded with non-existent heavenly reward?”

The most sensible experienced voice of the ex-NI police officer was not talking "alarmist nonsense".

The basic question is, "if the State --or its representative instrument-- has a democratic duty to protect innocent citizens, then would "some sort --any degree-- of coercion ['torture'] towards 'somebody (a) threatening the innocents or (b) capable of reducing such threat to the innocents" be justified, in the course of that duty?"

Also it is impossible to 'communicate humanly' with those who have been systematically de-humanized in Madrassas by brain-washing from age 3. The state is not on 'level ground' when dealing with terrorists and wicked mass murderers.

Anybody who harbors harm and acts to injure others 'innocents', ought to automatically forfeit one's human right of not being tortured, on the principle of 'the greater good'. Don't we put down dogs who attack kids even accidentally?

[Dave]

"Does love mean never telling a lie?"
------

I don't know, but I have been told that love means having to say you're sorry every five minutes. :-p

[Scott Lucas]

I'm down to three.

[MaryFaith]

I was very interested in the program on Sunday morning 'Is Torture ever Justified' & I would like a transcript of the discussion. Please advise.

Thank you.

[Scott Lucas]

Mary,

Thank you. If you contact us at enduringamerica [at ] gmail [dot] com, we will see if the BBC can provide a transcript.

Scott