Comments on: Torturing Afghan Prisoners: Blind and Dangerous

By: jeremyvernon

jeremyvernon — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:28:43 +0000

It's obvious that many in Ottawa were totally blind-sided by this (note the comments by Abbot) and resorted to the traditional Tory tactic of cramming their heads in the sand. I think ethical outrage implies a overmuch competence and deliberation in the reactions of the politicians – far more likely, I think, they are panicking and saying stupid things to the media.

As for torture, the amoral rational calculus argument against torture (over and above the ethical) is almost as old as von Neumann. The cost of torturing grows exponentially while the decays exponentially, if it has any benefit at all (e.g. life-saving intel) .

I am immensely curious to know the circumstances under which a Canadian soldier would knowingly hand-over detainees for torture – is it another Abu-Ghraib prison situation (cf. Philip Zimbardo)? were there perverse incentives? or is it some sort abhorrent out-sourcing?

By: Brenton sent a spelling edit. | gooseGrade

Brenton sent a spelling edit. | gooseGrade — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:21:09 +0000

[...] on Nov 20th, 2009 worth 2 pointsOriginal: taring theEdit: tarring theStatus: PendingReport Abusehttp://eaves.ca/2009/11/19/torturing-afghan-prisoners-blind-and-dangerous/ [...]

By: RobCottingham sent a grammar edit. | gooseGrade

RobCottingham sent a grammar edit. | gooseGrade — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:16:15 +0000

[...] both tried to inform the government about this problem, to no avail.Status: PendingReport Abusehttp://eaves.ca/2009/11/19/torturing-afghan-prisoners-blind-and-dangerous/ [...]

By: RobCottingham sent a grammar edit. | gooseGrade

RobCottingham sent a grammar edit. | gooseGrade — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:15:37 +0000

[...] me if I am skeptical,Edit: So you will forgive me if I am skeptical.Status: PendingReport Abusehttp://eaves.ca/2009/11/19/torturing-afghan-prisoners-blind-and-dangerous/ [...]

By: RobCottingham sent a grammar edit. | gooseGrade

RobCottingham sent a grammar edit. | gooseGrade — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:14:17 +0000

[...] Afghan mission and increase the risks to the lives of our own soldiers.Status: PendingReport Abusehttp://eaves.ca/2009/11/19/torturing-afghan-prisoners-blind-and-dangerous/ [...]

By: RobCottingham sent a spelling edit. | gooseGrade

RobCottingham sent a spelling edit. | gooseGrade — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:12:55 +0000

[...] that Canadian soldiers regularly detained innocent Afghan citizensStatus: PendingReport Abusehttp://eaves.ca/2009/11/19/torturing-afghan-prisoners-blind-and-dangerous/ [...]

By: Rob Cottingham

Rob Cottingham — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:30:07 +0000

Thanks for this post, David. I can't tell you just how much the events of the past 24 hours have shaken me. As strongly as I oppose the Harper Conservatives' policies, ideology and worldview, I actually didn't think them capable of this level of ethical disgrace.

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:49:32 +0000

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by david_a_eaves: Torturing Afghan Prisoners: Blind and Dangerous http://bit.ly/3KoxzG...

By: Time for an independent probe on the Afghanistan Detainee issue. « Scott’s DiaTribes

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:30:58 +0000

[...] Another scathing article on this over at David Eaves blog Category: Canadian Politics, International Politics | Leave a [...]

By: Tweets that mention Torturing Afghan Prisoners: Blind and Dangerous | eaves.ca -- Topsy.com

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:05:23 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by David Eaves, Taylor Owen. Taylor Owen said: agree with every word. RT @david_a_eaves: Torturing Afghan Prisoners: Blind and Dangerous http://bit.ly/3KoxzG [...]