The Torture Report

Yesterday we drove through Paskenta, a small town in Tehama County.  A substation of the Mendocino National Forest is located there, along with an interpretative sign explaining that Paskenta was on the route of a forced march of California Indians. U.S. Army soldiers moved the Indians from the Central Valley to the remote Round Valley Indian Reservation in 1863.  The marchers included women and children, over 100 of whom died along the way.

American history is full of terrible events.  The Trail of Tears, Japanese incarceration in World War II, the draft riots in New York, discrimination against Okies, and of course, slavery.  

What makes us different from many countries is that we don’t hide our blemishes.  We discuss them, put up interpretative signs, teach our students.

I understand that many Congressional Republicans wanted to keep the Torture Report secret.  Former President Bush has defended the CIA operatives who tortured or permitted it to happen.  On the other hand, Sen. McCain gave a heart-felt defense of the report and said torture “had stained our honor.”

I have three points to make:

1.  The information the U.S. authorities gleaned from tortured individuals was minimal.

2.  Even if the information had been vital, it does not justify torture.  The U.S. should not be emulating evil regimes.  Ever.  It is not what we do.

3.  We need to publicize what we have done.  One argument was that the report will lead to other groups or countries to torture Americans.  I’m pretty sure they already knew about what the U.S. has done.  What is important is that WE know what American officials have done in our name.  That way we can make sure it does not happen again.