by K Scappace

Created on: April 21, 2009   Last Updated: April 23, 2009

What does the Spanish Inquisition have in common with WWII Axis Prisoner of War camps, the KGB, Stasi, and Guantanamo Bay? Each of these organizations documented the use of water boarding, sleep deprivation, and personal humiliation to gain a confession. Thus, the use of 'enhanced interrogation techniques,' as permitted by the Bush Justice Department, cannot be categorized as anything other than torture.

Historically, such practices constituted war crimes, especially when used against civilians. Mr. Bush's administration declared Al-Qaeda to be illegal combatants because of the events of 9/11. The fact remains, however, that despite their protestations, no other court has concurred with that assessment. Just because we make a claim does not mean we are right. Under the Third Article of the Geneva Convention (GCIII), there are no illegal combatants in an armed conflict. In fact, the Geneva Convention made that position clear in the recent Serbian Conflict. The moment we invaded Afghanistan with our army in response to 9/11 we declared Al-Qaeda to be legal combatants. This stands in direct conflict of our public position.

Under that definition, we illegally tortured private citizens. Perhaps though, the most distressing aspect of the Department of Justice's position is that it makes no distinction between citizens of the United States and foreign citizens. Anyone who supports this decision is leaving the door open for concentration camps in our own country where American citizens are tortured into confessing crimes.

The decision brings to mind the baker in Italy in 1115. Charged with using witchcraft in his loaves of bread to curse customers who offended him, he suffered weeks of torture before finally confessing. The night before he was hanged, he wrote a letter to his wife explaining why he confessed. He documented the types of torture used on him. Water boarding and sleep deprivation were among them. He expressed his humiliation at being deprived clothing during his incarceration. He was one of many. In time, the Church decried such interrogation techniques as inhumane and evil. Later they offered official and public apologies for their treatment of these prisoners.

Later, in WWII the world expressed horror at the treatment of foreign citizens in the early German Concentration camps. In fact, we eventually gave this treatment a name. The Holocaust. Survivors of this atrocity against humanity have given more than ample evidence of the use of water boarding and other forms of torture. We held the torturers responsible for their acts in the Nuremberg Trials.

American children growing up during the Cold War between the U.S. and the USSR were indoctrinated against the evils' of the KGB and Stasi police. One of the many charges laid against them was the use of torture to force someone to confess. Again, water boarding and sleep deprivation were top contenders.

Water boarding, sleep deprivation, and personal humiliation are forms of torture. Regardless of modern events, history proves this. In time, we too will face a Nuremberg Trial for our treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

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