The Case Against Torture | Op-Docs | The New York Times

In this short documentary, a former defense lawyer for prisoners at Guantánamo Bay argues against the C.I.A.’s use of torture.
Produced by: Brian Knappenberger
Read the story here: nyti.ms/1xEuWsz
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The Case Against Torture | Op-Docs | The New York Times
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[@RamanKathpalia]

You can always lose your job but you should never lose your integrity ...Mr. Wright at 5:16

[@13939014402]

and those blue eyes!!!

[@scasino9358]

@Soturian wow. "goat***ers". not racist at all. just to be clear, you'd torture a human being because you think you're on the righteous side, right? nothing like the terrorists you hate so much. and to be clear, torture doesn't even work. they'll tell you whatever you want to hear to make it stop, it's very ineffective as a means to extract information.

[@BananaDynastyX]

@@13939014402 Cringe.

[@dm2060]

@Soturian it had been shown over and over that torture is an ineffective interrogation technique. Also, I'm pretty sure a major in the army knows how war works.

[@MrMarclax]

@Soturian speaking of facts, can you give any of what you wrote there?

[@avoidling9413]

This guy's like real-life Captain America

[@gdoublell1002]

I agree, but it’s not about him. It’s about American war crimes

[@avoidling9413]

@@gdoublell1002 Of course! Was not saying that he should be the main take-away from the video, my apologies if I was misunderstood. Unfortunately America is not held accountable for war crimes and other unacceptable and inhumane actions due to its position as a powerful capitalist and imperialist country. I find it ironic that America often tends to perpetrate the very kind of crimes it condemns abroad.

[@LolLol-cg8en]

Looks like him to lol

[@courier3567]

Good thing you haven't seen Winter Soldier where he pushes a man off a building to force a confession out of him....

[@thagrintch]

A true man of honor and integrity. We need more people like Mr. Wright in this world.

[@marsharowaihy6725]

thagrintch, Are you kidding me!

[@BicycleFunk]

@@marsharowaihy6725 so you're pro-torture?

[@flakeyfilms5792]

@@samuelmccarter4659 didn't his comrade in arms betray him or something

[@vitorschroederdosanjos6539]

"It's about hiding war crimes" that was absolutely the best answer that was ever given

[@joshuaoha]

Major Wright is an American hero. He makes me proud to be an American.

[@recordstore2265]

I hate u.s

[@user-py7hf9zg5d]

What about the americans that tortured those people?

[@3daypriest]

Nothing that is happening now makes me proud to be an American. People only have what America USED to be to instill pride. If anything I feel embarrassed over my nationality.

[@user-py7hf9zg5d]

@@3daypriest I would feel the same if I where American.

[@hanstun1]

What he did not say outright is how much damage this has done to the reputation of the US for absolutely no reason. Torture is a very ineffective way of collecting information and we have known this for a few hundred years. It is VERY effective if all you care about is getting a verdict.

[@recordstore2265]

And torture not good the only bad thing is information and that not good in of

[@xorenpetrosyan2879]

it's unethical, but how come it's ineffective? do you have evidence?

[@Nodeism]

​@@xorenpetrosyan2879 "Use of torture is not only illegal but also it is a poor technique that yields unreliable results, may damage subsequent collection efforts, and can induce the source to say what he thinks the HUMINT collector wants to hear. Use of torture can also have many possible negative consequences at national and international levels." - US Army Field Manual (FM 2-22.3 Human Intelligence Collector Operations, Sept 6. 2006) fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm2-22-3.pdf [Page 5-21] Feel free to peruse other sources as well, I encourage you to read the sources rather than the wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effectiveness_of_torture_for_interrogation Has torture sometimes given correct results? I'm sure it has. Someone wins the lottery every so often, but I won't invest my savings in it. Please share any rigorous evidence you've found for the effectiveness of torture. As far as I can see, no such evidence exists.

[@jordanraiber2102]

@@xorenpetrosyan2879 the real question you should be asking is if there is evidence to suggest it is effective instead of assuming it is effective until proven otherwise.

[@walterchen8548]

You cannot eliminate darkness with darkness.

[@Eli-gn3km]

...Only light can do that. You cannot eliminate hate with hate, only love can do that. -Martin Luther King Jr

[@annomaly751]

Darkness=ignorance

[@thomasrivera8626]

Sometimes it cancels its self into something good... a grey world we live in.

[@eliasfunez9982]

@@Eli-gn3km that quote was originally from the dhammapada

[@Laotzu.Goldbug]

And yet, believing that light will always Prevail is equally naive. Whether people want to accept it or not, sometimes you have to make Abby's out of a man in order to defeat the Devil. Every human culture since the beginning of time has realized it. Maybe you don't have to relish that fact, but sometimes you do have to be ruthless in the service of defeating your enemies, or they will wipe you out. The idea that there is always a happy ending that allows you to preserve your innocent notions but still defeat evil, well I would say that's particularly childish.

[@sojutime]

Torture isn't effective because a person being tortured will eventually tell the interrogator whatever they think they want to hear. The Nazi's most effective interrogator, Hans Scharff, never employed torture. By treating 9/11 plotters humanely, Ali Soufan got more actionable intelligence than any of the torturers.

[@SuperSaltydog77]

And sometimes they tell you the truth. You know nothing about the tactics Nazi interrogators used, you weren't there.

[@ShaunDreclin]

And if they don't know the truth, they will say literally anything to make the torture stop. Torture. Does. Not. Work.

[@FriedrichHerschel]

Even if they say sometimes the truth ... how can you tell the difference between all the lies? You have to fact-check everything, with other means. So torture gives you nothing other means wouldn't have given, too. So you don't need it, all it does it's giving you a ton of extra work to check which is junk at the price of sacrificing the very core morals of your nation.

[@MikhailKalashnikovMiG]

SuperSaltydog77 "and _sometimes_ they tell you the truth" I'm surprised you think such a hilariously flawed statement constitutes as a rebuttal

[@jimjmcd]

@@SuperSaltydog77 And you were? If the study of history, eye-witness testimony, and expert interpretation are set aside and only personal experience counts, then none of knows anything, including you.

[@kalbonatao]

I thought and believed that this kind of man only exists in movies.. I salute you, Maj. Wrigjt

[@ratking6133]

"Use of insects" wtf is this? This sounds like a saw movie. No sane person should be using this on someone for any reason!

[@user-gr3hl1nd4x]

yeah, plus it violates the constitution, by inflicting cruel and unusual punishment

[@jexikavindictive]

Yeah and this is only the parts we know about.

[@oesoy]

He IS Mr. Wright!

[@DoubleGoon]

orville esoy The Wright man for the job. Come on people we need more puns!

[@KikomochiMendoza]

He is an Ace Attorney. Defending the Truth.

[@mattneibaur215]

Please run for office...

[@sesstreets]

Darkness can not drive out darkness; only the light can do that.

[@TheMayotenis]

The fact that someone has to build a case against torture is mind boggling.

[@courier3567]

A lot of people agree that if you commit horrible crimes you deserve horrible things to happen to you.

[@charlesciminera5881]

I agree torture is not debatable

[@plasterdbastard]

So much love for this guy.

[@mreyesdesigns]

Ok we need THIS GUY for president! Stat!!!

[@evanw2195]

Michelle Reyes someone like trump is too qualified apparently otherwise your comment would have thousands of likes

[@trevorjames7490]

👍👍👍👍

[@YerSiNia14]

Presidents are for talk show hosts. Long liVe America

[@billcordell9797]

This really is time to take a long look at ourselves and ask ourselves if what we are doing is right and just. It's a shame that one of the first lessons we learn as a child-two wrongs don't make a right- is one of the first we forget as adults.

[@Trund27]

He’s a hero.

[@user-pt1ew3kb6u]

Jeriba Shigan no, he’s being humane. he wants all people to be treated like HUMANS, not animals. he’s protecting human rghts

[@Trund27]

Jeriba Shigan Nope. He’s protecting YOU. You just don’t see it. By him being honourable and not standing by when torture is being conducted, he’s actually setting the precedent so that you never have to suffer this fact. Because once we open the door to torture, and make it common, acceptable, and even trite - then NONE OF US IS SAFE.

[@gcsusetyo]

We need more people like Major Wright calling the shots

[@marykatemontemagno4833]

I respect this gentleman so much... we need more people with his level of integrity in the world.

[@curiousworld7912]

And then, Donald Trump was elected, who has said 'torture works', 'waterboarding is a minor form of torture' and that 'we should go much stronger than waterboarding'. God forgive us.....

[@CP-jk3tc]

Oh you would be surprised to know what hideous acts Ahahu and his ilks are capable of when they get their hands on Western captives (their own citizens too). Not saying that CIA is running a clean shop, but it's necessary. Jason has a golden heart it would be better for him to focus on the US civil justice system. Playing soft by the book with terrorists and they infiltrate and poison the civilized countries (just look at EU right now). The only place you can fight evil with kindness is in an ancient fantasy book called The Bible. It just failed to work against terrorists in the real world. Every time.

[@bodenlosedosenhose1590]

@@CP-jk3tc The problem is that it seems that torture doesn't seem to work. Not speaking of the people imprisoned in Guantánamo for nothing.

[@bodenlosedosenhose1590]

@Soturian And where did I say Trump said that?

[@bodenlosedosenhose1590]

@Soturian No problem.

[@zekevfab]

Soturian this is what Trump said: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6Gvg3-KmJWoe6c

[@kotoquatl]

If the U.S. are to repair their reputation in the world, this man should run for President.

[@jordanraiber2102]

man this was made back when integrity and morals mattered.

[@leivabernie]

Great publication NYT. Good, keep it up.

[@dailynico]

Yes. Only light can drive out the dark. Keep it up!

[@edinlivadic4707]

Wow. This man and people like him are our Heroes . Simple things was said Simple but still so powerful.

[@robertturner8178]

This man is a true American. Hands down.

[@tussilein2012]

good journalism, keep on it!!

[@couponville1]

May God have mercy on us all.

[@yellowusbrickus4821]

Well this aged like milk

[@Leamsi]

A man I can look up to. Thank you, Mr. Wright.

[@O2BAmachine]

What a badass. So much respect for him and his message.

[@emilyhancock3456]

Absolutely horrific

[@tiddlesworth8798]

Now this is what it means to stand up for justice. This is a good man.

[@asphyxiafeeling]

We let our fear get the better of us and we compromised our values in the name of security. It is shameful. I am at least happy that we have the integrity to discuss these things in public now so we can atone for our mistakes.

[@robshin8078]

RESPECT. This guy is legit. Salute to you, Mr. Wright!

[@tommyjenga5976]

Great video.

[@salemfathi2532]

God bless you, Brian

[@salemfathi2532]

i meant Jason You are of the bravest

[@salemfathi2532]

one of the bravests

[@vgm_central]

Bless this man

[@Danielevans2]

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE MAN!!!

[@janecantdance7369]

It’s absolute insanity that we have to make a case against torture. We think of torture as the worst possible fate, because you feel pain without ever dying. So there are people for it? We have to make a case against it to persuade people?

[@anaismorenorodriguez2103]

There still good human beings out there, with real justice sense no letter what but that we all are humans. Bravo Mr. Wright, my new heroic symbol.

[@abemand369]

what an incredible mand!

[@leenviolite8255]

The fact we even have to make a case against torture is unreal to me! Did I miss the memo? Are we still in medival times?

[@OverwhelMinGJing]

Salute to this guy.

[@s.m.a.7]

You are our Hero major I salute you People like you who make the change respect you sir

[@SuggyChi]

Amazing 👏🏽

[@onlethebest]

God bless him

[@codyleventhal8350]

"You can always loose your job, but you should never loose your integrity. "

[@katarinaax]

What a brave man.

[@suchaluch5615]

3 years later, in January 2018, the US President signed an executive order to keep the detention camp open indefinitely. Looks like nobody has a problem with torture in the US.

[@theangrycheeto]

This guy is amazing.

[@reginaldmickensjr2195]

Major Wright AND I AM CALLING HIM THAT BECAUSE HE DESERVES HIS TITLE IS AN HONORABLE MAN WITH INTEGRITY AND TACT!

[@EyeLean5280]

Very nice.

[@Wwdancwe690]

Forget North Korea, there is nothing there anyway, this is all we need to discuss right now. Seriously!!!! How are we pretending like this isn't a problem!

[@recordstore2265]

Korean tells some thing else

[@jiehjk3044]

Love u Major Wright.

[@cherchuhaikieu4328]

A true honorable man. This man is what American is. Please never get lost.

[@EleanoraDzen]

This man understands why the rest of the world thinks the US of A is questionable at best.

[@ottodidakt3069]

This ladies and gentlemen is what true HONOUR looks like !

[@eamae]

if we can't do something which can make a positive difference in this world, the very least we can do is to live with dignity as human being...

[@smsmsmsmsmsm]

I love and respect this man and I’m not even American. People like this - logical, ethical, fair human beings - are who should be leading the world.

[@ANGELFRIEND62962]

Mr. Right ❤️

[@beth-rg8bm]

If they even threaten to torture me id make up any story they wanted to hear...true or NOT!

[@Zubair00001]

One fine character.

[@ronanhouston1034]

“The case against torture”... as if it’s not common sense

[@MeSoyCapitan]

You must be new here.

[@lorddarktelefax]

Sometimes people need to be told the obvious 😑

[@rrbaggett7]

Major Wright, you, sir, are the embodiment of our highest American ideals. We should *never* debase ourselves in pursuit of revenge masquerading as "justice." You have my respect & gratitude.

[@MaryJo22]

A true American hero!

[@dinosoarskill17]

Hero. He deserves better.

[@jacobzaranyika9334]

Very interesting New York Times.

[@askdhuwuw]

Hero

[@robertr.roberto-robertson4815]

Bruh I thought he was Captain America lol

[@spamrice9914]

“ There’s nothing better than a coffee and a cigarette for an interrogation”.

[@mo_7199]

Treat someone like a criminal and they will be violent. Treat someone with honor and they will be dignified.

[@jaw3964]

2020 & the darkness is in full effect

[@RamblinGamblinStan]

I interview him for a school project. Good guy.

[@emekanwachukwu2834]

Something about this guy tells me he is GENUINELY at peace with himself.

[@sandyboyd7040]

It is tragic this video has so few views

[@lsorange460]

To know that innocent people are being held against there will and tortured is just so maddening, and depressing. These people have been stripped of their rights and will forever live in fear of this horrible treatment.

[@mamuburaa]

Not only is torture ineffective for interogation, but we must protect the innocent from being subjected to any punishments in the first place.

[@juskiehuskie]

Mr. Wright has earned my respect, and made me reevaluate my views on America. I mean, We as outsiders only see what is shown, and... Let's just say, I'd be embarrassed at what's happening now, if I were an american.

[@swagman556]

Water boarding at Guantanamo bay sounds pretty cool! If you don’t know what either of those things are.

[@annomaly751]

How can we do this to other human beings?

[@ViaMirage]

0:38 He looks like he could legitimately be a One Direction (boy band) member.

[@pengfeidong5268]

Thank you America. The Greatest Country, In the World!

[@perisaizidanehanapi7931]

Ah yes, the golden years of NYT

[@77bovi]

No more shall he be saluted by soldiers for it is now mankind that salutes him.

[@augustmannertorn6107]

This guy for president

[@DaveGarber1975]

Torture is both evil and ineffective. It's very effective at getting people to confess... to anything that they figure you want to hear. But, if you want the truth, then I understand that you'll enjoy more success with traditional investigative methods.

[@alucardofficial7074]

Following orders was not a valid defense for war criminals after WW2. Following orders is not a valid defense for Americans who commit war crimes.

[@inigojuancarlos]

..I still remember the Abu Ghareb prison

[@xra1750]

Torture is inhumane and it doesn’t work as well as just talking with someone. Interrogation is fine as long as your basic human rights are not violated.

[@lennoxl5443]

Mr. Write 2020

[@devthomas5062]

He is like a real life captain america, we need more people like him

[@lonesum1555]

He would be a great president 💯👏👍🙏

[@Jesusssss]

Wow this is guy is my role model woww

[@oanamanole9005]

Such an amazing guy! Not fond of the Talibans at all...but he makes sense.

[@Alina-fx1ck]

obaydullah has the most beautiful eyelashes i've ever seen like wow lol

[@Totallynormalperson296]

He is really................... .RIGHT

[@christinewatson1989]

Someone once suggested I use a neti pot for my sinus issues. I tried it and effectively waterboarded myself and my god it is AWFUL! I'm against both waterboarding and neti pots.

[@Fr_87]

This is why torture should only be used in cases in which the tortured individual is otherwise useless outside of being used for vengeance.

[@srccde]

During the witch trials in Germany, the people were tortured until they'd given names of other "witches". These people were then interrogated and tortured the same way until they'd give names too. This way, the trials spread like a disease across the country. Torture can reveal the truth - but no one actually knows whether it's the truth or just something someone said to stop being tortured... Hence, it's no proper way of finding out truth.