ToR-tuRe — all in favor, say ‘Aye’

Last week, the use of torture became a permanent fixture in America's legal landscape - a necessary evil in a world forever changed by terrorism - or so our government and some mainstream media pimps would have US believe.

But, HOW MANY people in the world agree that torturing suspected terrorists (really just glorified criminal defendants) is NECESSARY to protect against terrorism? WHO are these people? And WHY do they favor it?

[In a BBC poll released Thursday October 19th,] nearly a third of respondents (some 27,000 people were questioned in 25 countries) consider the use of torture acceptable under certain circumstances.

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Although a clear majority, worldwide, OPPOSES even the occasional use of torture, there are significant groups willing to say they favour it.

WHO are these significant groups???


Not surprisingly, israelis top the list of groups that support torturing others to protect themselves.

But, WHY?

The Economist would have us believe that israeli support for torture is primarily a byproduct of their allegedly justified fear of terrorist acts.

Those with an especial fear of terrorism seem most inclined to support its use. Thus 53% of [i]sraeli Jews, according to the BBC poll, would allow terrorist suspects to be tortured for the sake of trying to get information that could save innocent lives.

But, the poll's findings belie the assertion that fear drives their support of torture.

First, only 16% of Muslim israelis (who presumably also fear attacks since they live in the line of fire) agree with using torture. But also, far fewer Europeans support using torture against suspected 'terrorists', even though many Europeans suffer as much as, if not more than, israelis do from terrorist attacks.

But, there's another salient 'fact', unique to israel, that is missing in the Economist's analysis.

Each country surveyed is either comprised of citizens of different racial and religious backgrounds or is comprised of one significant racial group with varying religious sects.

Not one nation - other than israel - has a national policy of forcibly expelling groups of people from their land with the express goal of maintaining a national Jewish majority - the raison d'etre of Zionism.

You might argue that this is why israeli Muslims are reluctant to support torture - because they know that, most likely, it will be used against fellow Muslims. However, that does not necessarily mean that israeli Muslims support using torture against non-Muslims or Jews.

On the other hand, the same assumption necessarily means that Zionists [or israeli Jews] are more eager than anyone else in the world to torture groups of people other than their own.

But, why?

Perhaps, it's the same reason they were the first to use banned depleted uranium on Egyptians in 1973 . . .

Or, the same reason they used white phosphorous and cluster bombs on Lebanese civilians two months ago . . .

Or, perhaps, because they don't value the lives of those tortured or killed as much as they value their own lives . . .

Or, because they don't even consider those tortured to be human . . .

Of course, all these reasons demonstrate an underlying RACISM that is both impossible to ignore and impossible to accept - even if the whole world said 'Aye'.

No matter how you spin it, the Zionist dream is - undeniably and unequivocally - a racist one.

And thanks to AIPAC and everyone in Congress who supports israel - do or die - israeli values have now become American values.

israeli interests have now become American interests.

israel's enemies have now become America's enemies.

And, unfortunately, under the Military Commisions Act - the American people are now included among them.

In addition, as a consequence of adopting israeli 'values' wholesale, whatever blowback awaits israel for its blatant disregard for human rights, no doubt awaits US too.

So, next time you find yourself contemplating America's track record on torture or the senators and representatives who said 'Aye' in its favor, remember that you have israel to thank.

Hopefully, it won't be while sitting in a room with no view at Guantanomo, enduring the treatment bought and paid for with your tax dollars.


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Thanks, bobw