Obama to Pursue Bush on Torture

Definition of Torture May Be The Deciding Factor

President Obama has decided it is prudent to pursue the Bush Administration legally for programs that included terrorist interrogations. The question on the table, the fulcrum this entire issue may be teetering on, is simply the determination of the definition of torture.

The Democrats consider the techniques used during interrogations to persuade prisoners to provide important information gruesome, and in short, torture.

Torture used by various enemies normally includes severe physical pain, long-time physical effects or disabilities, the removal of body parts, and often, ultimately, death. None of the methods used by American agents that are in question includes any of those above techniques. In fact, in order to ensure that techniques used were not within the definition of torture, the U.S. Governmental agencies devised techniques that depends heavily on psychological manipulation.

These enhanced techniques, according to White House memos, were a large part of protecting our nation from other terrorist attacks.

One of the techniques, waterboarding, simulates drowning, but the prisoner leaves the interrogation room breathing, alive, and healthy - though a little shook up.

Another technique recently discussed includes placing a caterpillar in a box with a prisoner contained within, and telling the prisoner who fears stinging bugs that the caterpillar contains a deadly sting. Once again, the prisoner left the interrogation room with all of his faculties intact. The techniques may have caused severe psychological discomfort, but they were effective, and saved lives.

Opponents of the techniques proclaim that these examples of "torture" do not represent American values, and that George W. Bush has committed criminal actions by allowing such techniques to be used. For this, they believe George Bush, and all parties involved, should be tried for war crimes as a result.

How is it that the Democrats can come to the conclusion that anything uncomfortable is torture? Should we instead question the prisoners in a Ritz Carlton hotel room as we serve them tea and crumpets? Do they really believe that the information we are receiving using these techniques would be received just as readily by using a manner of questioning that contains no discomfort whatsoever?

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary