The U.S.’s use of torture in the War on Terror

A discussion on the indefensibility and repercussions of state sponsored torture

Research Paper (undergraduate) , 2016 , 20 Pages , Grade: 77.00%

Politics - Region: USA

The U.S.’s War on Terror has generated and continues to engender a great deal of international and domestic condemnation. This essay consequently analyses one of the most controversial and insidious repercussions of the ‘War on Terror’: the U.S.’s use of torture on terrorist suspects. Ultimately, this paper argues that torture as a counter-terrorism tactic was an ill-conceived act of desperation that violated human rights, damaged the U.S. government’s integrity and potentially increased terrorism. For this reason, the U.S.’s choice of torture is argued to be the basest of its mistakes in its War on Terror. Thus, this discussion focuses on the emergence of Enhanced Interrogation Techniques, cases of torture at Guantanamo Bay, the indefensibility of torture and the irreconcilable consequences of state sponsored torture. To substantiate its main arguments, this analysis draws on the International Committee of the Red Cross Report On The Treatment Of Fourteen High Value Detainees In CIA Custody and reports from the Select Senate Committee on Intelligence.

Table of contents

Acronyms and abbreviations

1. Introduction: What are the main criticisms of the use of torture by the U.S. in its War on Terror?
1.1 Definition of torture

2. Background
2.1 Emergence of ‘enhanced interrogation techniques’

3. Evidence that enhanced interrogation techniques constituted torture
3.1 Cases of torture at Guantánamo

4. Key criticisms of torture
4.1 Refutation of the ticking time bomb scenario
4.2 Torture does not provide useful information
4.3 Torture is counter-productive and may increase terrorism

5. Conclusion

6. Bibliography

• College: University of Cape Town
• Course: Conflict in World Politics
• Grade: 77.00%
• Author: Jeremy Raguain (Author)
• Publication Year: 2016
• Pages: 20
• Catalog Number: V364681
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668446366
• ISBN (Book): 9783668446373
• Language: English
• Tags: Torture, War on Terror, Guantanamo Bay, USA, Afghanistan, Iraq, Terror, counterterrorism, Enhanced Interrogation Techniques