If someone surveyed the surviving Vietnam POWs, we would likely not agree on one definition of torture. In fact, we wouldn't agree if waterboarding is torture. For example, John McCain, Bud Day and I were recently together. Bud is one of the toughest and most tortured Vietnam POWs. John thinks waterboarding is torture; Bud and I believe it is harsh treatment, but not torture. Other POWs would have varying opinions. I don't claim to be right; we just disagree. But as someone who has been severely tortured over an extended time, my first hand view on torture is this: Torture, when used by an expert, can produce useful, truthful information. I base that on my experience. I believe that during torture, there is a narrow "window of truth" as pain (often multiple kinds) is increased. Beyond that point, if torture increases, the person breaks, or dies if he continues to resist.
Our naïveté does not impress radical terrorists like those who slit the throat of Daniel Pearl |
And, as these quotes from Leo Thorsness attest, you may want to take the time to listen to a few more of those than just John McCain who have been very close to being objects of that honor but survived.
And please take the time to honor all those still alive that have served. But you should do that every day. Please understand -- unlike O Duce -- that Memorial Day is for honoring those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to keep you free.
So O Duce can now complete your enslavement like the sheep large numbers of you have become.
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