Why is torture so offensive to people?, page 2

This "ticking time-bomb" scenario all these torture advocates use to justify it not only absolutely laughable but secondly...

Name me ONE time in the last 500 years, when we've ever had such a scenario on our hands? When a huge loss of life could have been prevented if we had tortured somebody in custody?
The chance of these types of incidents occurring is almost nil. Even in today's world.

The startling truth that has been proven over and over again is that torture DOES NOT WORK.
People under that kind of physical and mental anguish will do ANYTHING to relieve themselves of it, and if that includes incriminating themselves for something they did not do, they will do it.

Vietnam Veterans, the FBI, Police Interrogators and even John McCain have all testifed how ineffective torture is in gaining solid, verifiable evidence that can stand up to scrutiny in a court room:

Washington Post
The Independant
Victims of Torture
AlterNet
CommonDreams

The point to remember is when you torture people, especially over prolonged periods of time in isolation or some kind of detention, is that their mind is broken. They loose all will to live, all notions of self-preservation and decency just fly out the window.

I think McCain himself put it best, "Every man has his breaking point."
McCain attempted suicide numerous times while being held in Vietnam, which goes to show you how desperate torture victims become to end their suffering.

Which is why people tortured say anything and everything; they have no reason to say otherwise. Most of them truly believe they will die or never the see the light of day again, it's part of braking down their resistance that whole "atmosphere of gloom".

And who's to say, in a hypothetical situation, like the "ticking time-bomb scenario" (which still mind you is baseless) that a man would actually give himself up?
I think dedicated Islamic Extremists would rather die, and be seen as martyrs for their cause than give themselves up like that.
To them, it's the benefit of killing a greater number of "enemies", that greatly outweighs their self preservation.
I mean essentially, to most of these Islamic Fundamentalists, their lives mean jack all to them. The proof of that is Suicide Bombing.

Put yourself in their shoes: As long as they take down a group of people with them, their death is not in vain according to these Islamic Extremists. And the more that perish, the better and greater their sacrifice was.

And if their dedicated and well trained I think they would rather die than blow a chance to kill hundreds or thousands of "infidels."