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Columnist wrong to defend use of torture

I am writing to express my disappointment with the Sept. 1 opinion piece by Michelle Stirling-Anosh, headlined So what if CIA tortured suspects?

I am writing to express my disappointment with the Sept. 1 opinion piece by Michelle Stirling-Anosh, headlined So what if CIA tortured suspects?

The piece was of poor quality, due to several problems with the argument that was being presented (a defence of torture tactics used by the CIA while interrogating suspected terrorists).

The piece is riddled with sweeping generalizations, which destroy the argument’s credibility.

The author claims that “our intelligence and police forces love and cherish life” while suspected terrorists “hate life and cherish death.” There is absolutely no evidence to support this claim!

The author also makes the claim that Barak Obama “is a nice man, but very naive,” and once again, gives no evidence to support the “fact.”

Even if the author had met the president, she does not list any qualifications that would allow her to make an accurate or credible evaluation of his moral composition.

Also, the closing paragraph suggests that we should “Be grateful we have people on our side willing to do this distasteful and morally challenging work that quietly saves so many lives.”

It would seem to me that this is the attitude that many “terrorists” would hold. They see their struggle as a means of helping their own people.

Perhaps we should remember that we are all human, and that we all deserve respect Human rights apply to all humans!

Suspected murderers are not tortured in Canada, why should they be tortured elsewhere?

Rachelle Meeres

Red Deer