American Torture from the Philippines to Iraq: A Recurring Nightmare William L. D’Ambruoso

American Torture from the Philippines to Iraq: A Recurring Nightmare William L. D’Ambruoso – Ebook Instant Download/Delivery ISBN(s): 9780197570326,0197570321,9780197570340, 0197570348

Product details:

• ISBN 10:0197570348
• ISBN 13:9780197570340
• Author:William L. D’Ambruoso

What explains the United States’ persistent use of torture over the past hundred-plus years? Not only is torture incompatible with liberal values; it is also risky and frequently ineffective as an interrogation method. In American Torture from the Philippines to Iraq, William L. d’Ambruoso argues that the norm against torture has two features that help explain why liberal democracies like the United States have continued to violate it. First, the norm against torture paradoxically contributes to the belief that torture works. In naming certain behaviors as appropriate, norms also define what is inappropriate. Some policymakers and soldiers believe (not always unreasonably) that in the nasty world of international politics, cheaters–those who are willing to break the rules–have an advantage, especially in security matters. “Bad” becomes “good” because it appears effective, and rule-following is perceived as na?ve and dangerous. Second, the anti-torture norm is not sufficiently specified to draw a definitive line between norm-compliant behavior and violations. For example, it is impossible to specify exactly how many hours must pass before forced standing becomes torture. As a result of torture’s blurry definition, perpetrators can justify their actions by suggesting that the adversary is guilty of worse behavior, by using euphemisms such as “enhanced interrogation,” or by flatly denying that an act is torture. In short, lack of specificity leads to justifications and redefinitions, which in turn enable transgressions. Drawing on previously overlooked archival testimony from the Philippine-American War (1899-1902), the Vietnam War, and the post-2001 war on terror, d’Ambruoso shows that the rationale for using torture has remained remarkably consistent throughout the past century.

Table contents:

1. Torture and the Norm against It: Undying Rivals
2. Liberal-Democratic Torture: Answered and Unanswered Questions
3. The Search for “Nasty” but “Safe” Interrogation Methods
4. Justifying Torture in the Philippine-American War
5. The Roots and Rationalizations of U.S. Torture in Vietnam
6. Twenty-First-Century Torture: The War on Terror
7. Conclusion: Takeaways, Scope, and Torture’s Future

People also search:

american torture from the philippines to iraq

us iraq torture

iraq torture scandal

american torture from the philippines to iraq pdf free

american torture from the philippines to iraq download