Anyone else surprised they don't have more advanced torchure techniques?

[FormerDittoHead]

For the subject, I called them torchure techniques, but what I mean are invasive ways to get information from a person.

I mean, after seeing all of the 'brainwashing' scenes in movies like:
"Brainstorm" ( http://imdb.com/title/tt0085271/ )
"Telefon" ( http://imdb.com/title/tt0076804/ )
"In Like Flint" ( http://imdb.com/title/tt0061810/ )
(actually that last one is a bit of a joke)

...and knowing that with our military budget, we must have spent *millions* and *millions* "researching" the subject, that waterboarding, hot and cold water and sleep deprivation is the best we can do?

I mean, remember "truth serum"? I mean, the POINT of calling it "truth serum"? And "lie detectors"? My point here is that for at least 50+ years we've had it in us to use medical and electronic technology to get information out of people... but this is the best thing we have?

I'm just wondering if I'm the only one who's a little surprised we don't already have some drug or "machine" that would be better than going back to these Salem Witch Trial methods...

[Random_Australian]

1. Puh! Drugs and machines can get fucked.

Sorry for the language, but people viewing those who refuse a polygraph as suspicious (which I saw elsewhere, co-incidentally, just now) annoy me.

Basically, when it comes to human minds, machines just can't output enough data. And drugs are worthless crap too. The end.

"truth serum" and "lie detector" were just enormous piles of bullshit, like radium suppositories.

[Heidi]

2. How do we know they _don't_? (nt)

[billyskank]

3. Maybe they aren't REALLY interested in information?

Maybe they simply want to hurt people? :shrug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. I fear that maybe you're right.

I only hope the rest of the world takes pity on us when they come for the bad guys. :(

[FormerDittoHead]

5. I think you've hit the nail on the head...

I think it's one of those untold truths that the Right holds...

The killing and torture isn't for "information" or "defense" - it's for "REVENGE", to "send a message", to "teach 'those people' a lesson"...

Perhaps my question was a way to suggest what you said. They probably DO have better ways to GET INFORMATION - but as you say, that's probably not what they're really interested in....

[billyskank]

6. I fear this is the dark ugly truth at the heart of the matter

In my country, I frequently hear our leaders express dismay that Muslims (many of whom live in this country) think that the 'war on terrorism' is actually a war on Islam. It is not so, they say.

My fear is that actually they are mistaken. I am sure they are in earnest, but I am very afraid that the highest levels of the US government really do think this is nothing other than a war against Islam.

:scared: