russ (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} goulo) wrote,@ 2008-02-20 12:25:00 |
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Six Questions for Darius Rejali, Author of ‘Torture and Democracy’
Six Questions for Darius Rejali, Author of ‘Torture and Democracy’
http://harpers.org/archive/2008/02/h
A good interview with an author who has some insightful stuff to say about the dangerous evil path the US is on with its increasing acceptance of torture.
Tio estas bona anglalingva intervjuo kun aŭtoro kiu diras multajn interesajn aferojn pri la danĝera fia vojo sur kiu Usono iras kun sia kreskanta akceptado de torturo.
Six Questions for Darius Rejali, Author of ‘Torture and Democracy’
http://harpers.org/archive/2008/02/h
A good interview with an author who has some insightful stuff to say about the dangerous evil path the US is on with its increasing acceptance of torture.
I remember one distinguished expert who reviewed my work said, basically, how can Rejali say torture is part of modernity? If that was true, America would torture too. It really was amazing, in retrospect, how willfully blind people wanted to be. I grew up in Iran at a time when the Shah’s secret police, the SAVAK, did not hesitate torturing Islamic and Marxist insurgents. No one thought torture was something incompatible with cars, fast food, washing machines and other parts of modern life. I remember talking to a high-ranking SAVAK officer years after the Shah was gone, and he certainly felt he played an important role in modernization. It wasn’t the last time I’ve heard torturers say how important they are in making their country safe for economic opportunity.
...
During the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the Shah’s torture was the best recruiting tool the opposition had. Prisons were places where prisoners met each other and professionalized their skills, as I and others have documented. It feels like a nightmare watching American politicians make the same mistake as the Shah. I like to believe that with every mistake we must surely be learning, but sometimes it is hard to believe.
Tio estas bona anglalingva intervjuo kun aŭtoro kiu diras multajn interesajn aferojn pri la danĝera fia vojo sur kiu Usono iras kun sia kreskanta akceptado de torturo.
