Don't Let Torture Become the Norm
By Phillip Butler
t r u t h o u t | Guest Contributor
Tuesday 30 January 2007
Many peace and justice organizations have been promoting and demonstrating
lately for awareness of torture and related issues. I'm amazed and profoundly
disappointed that this has apparently become necessary in our country.
I spent eight years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, from 1965 to 1973. During
that time, I and more than 90 percent of my fellow POWs were repeatedly tortured
for the extortion of information to be used for political propaganda and sometimes
just for retribution. We were not recognized by Vietnam as POWs, but as criminals,
because the Vietnamese had not signed the 1949 "Geneva Convention relative
to the Treatment of Prisoners of War."
Later, in 1975, the United Nations created the "Convention Against Torture."
Both conventions were ratified by Congress and became laws of our land. Unfortunately,
Vietnam - along with numerous other countries who are still partially stuck
in the 15th century - had institutionalized torture to punish and extract information
from prisoners.
We received great moral and psychological strength during our incarceration
from telling each other, "Our country is civilized and would never knowingly
treat people like this."
We felt we had the moral high ground and took great pride in being American,
above such barbarity. Besides, we all knew from experience that torture is useless,
because under torture we told our tormentors whatever we thought they wanted
to hear. Whenever possible we slipped in ridiculous statements like one I used
in a torture-extracted "confession," that "only officers are
allowed to use the swimming pool on the USS Midway." Another friend wrote
in a "confession" that "my commanding officer, Dick Tracy, ordered
me to bomb schools and hospitals." These are just two examples of the kind
of culturally embedded nonsense people can expect to extract through torture.
We are hearing arguments that support coercion in various forms. One is that
"unusual body positions" aren't really torture. Well, if you don't
think so, try going out on your driveway or sidewalk, without clothes on, one
of these cold nights. Kneel down on the concrete, holding your body erect with
your arms extended above your head. In a very few minutes you will begin to
feel real pain. Imagine several big tormentors ensuring with whips that you
stay in that position. That's torture.
Another argument tries to qualify captives as POWs, or "detainees."
Please, they are human beings. We are holding people in indeterminate isolation
from families, Red Cross visits and other Geneva/UN requirements. From experience
I say this constitutes torture of the heart and soul.
Another nonsensical argument goes, "What if we have someone who has planted
an atomic weapon in a major city and we want to find out where in time to stop
it?" Do we enact a special law that violates our Constitution, treaties
and statutes for this preposterous eventuality? Do we seriously think we could
extract "where and when" from this individual anyway?
So now my question is: Will we allow President Bush and his chicken-hawk advisers
to succeed in institutionalizing torture in our proud nation? Will we allow
him to continue ignoring our Constitution, treaties and other statutes prohibiting
such cruel and unusual punishments?
My fellow Americans, we cannot afford to regress to the 15th century by acting
like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, Syria and other nations that have
institutionalized torture. Even on a practical level, we must not thereby endanger
our own citizens, in uniform or out, who might be kidnapped or captured by others
in the future.
As a patriot who fought and sacrificed for our country, I ask all Americans
to stand up for what is civil, humane and right. Sadly, at this late date, we
must be more aware of torture and the misguided policies of this administration.
We cannot allow our government to institutionalize torture. Let's keep the promise
for ourselves and all humanity, the promise that is our United States of America.
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Phillip Butler of Monterey, California, is a graduate of the US Naval
Academy and a former Navy light-attack carrier pilot. In 1965 he was shot down
over North Vietnam and later was awarded two Silver Stars, two Legion of Merits,
two Bronze Stars and two Purple Heart medals. After his repatriation in 1973
he earned a doctorate in sociology from UC San Diego and became a Navy organizational
effectiveness consultant. He completed his Navy career in 1981 as a professor
of management at the Naval Postgraduate School, retiring as a Navy Commander.
He then owned and operated a management consulting and motivational speaking
company for 20 years, from which he is now retired.
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