No, we don't support torture ( Rejali & Gronke / The Oregonian)

[struggle4progress]

by Darius Rejali and Paul Gronke, guest opinion
Saturday May 09, 2009, 2:09 PM

... In 30 polls taken since the 9/11 attacks, the average public approval for American use of torture is 44 percent, ranging as low as 15 percent and as high as 49 percent, depending on the vagaries of the question. When asked most directly if they think it is "acceptable to torture people suspected of terrorism," only 35 percent of Americans express approval ...

A poll conducted by the U.S. military of soldiers serving in Iraq found that 56 percent of Marines and 59 percent of Army personnel opposed the use of torture even if they knew it would save the life of a fellow soldier! A larger majority, 61 and 64 percent respectively, opposed torture as a way to gather intelligence ...

In fact, outright majorities in favor of torture are rare anywhere in the world, even in countries that have experienced domestic terrorism in the last 10 years. Only India and South Korea exceed 50 percent support for torture.

And of the 10 countries that have been sites of major terrorist attacks in the last 10 years, most have even smaller pro-torture minorities than the United States, including Israel, Spain and Russia. It appears most publics in these countries think that their security forces can respond effectively to terrorism without recourse to torture ...

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/05/no_we_dont_support_torture.html

[stubtoe]

1. Very good to see. I've always questioned the supposedly high percentages

of "people supporting torture" shown by some previous polls. Poll results can so easily skewed "depending on the vagaries of the question".

[flyarm]

2. not in my name..IT DOES NOT MAKE US SAFER.. it only puts a bulleye on our backs

and it is good propaganda for terrorists to use against us! And puts our soldiers lives at risk.