Look away

Via the inimitable Billmon, we learn that Torture reaches new depths in Iraq:

Torture in Iraq is reportedly worse now than it was under deposed president Saddam Hussein, the United Nations' chief anti-torture expert said Thursday.

Manfred Nowak described a situation where militias, insurgent groups, government forces and others disregard rules on the humane treatment of prisoners.

"What most people tell you is that the situation as far as torture is concerned now in Iraq is totally out of hand," said Nowak, the global body's special investigator on torture.

Horrors. Disregarding rules on the rules on the humane treatment of prisoners. What next?

Perhaps rewriting the Geneva Conventions? Allowing evidence obtained from torture as evidence in criminal trials?

Silliness I know. No civilized nation, no matter how brutal, would sink to that.

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Searching for "evolution" in this post reveals nothing. This isn't about evolution. In part because evolution is not a normative philosophy. It is, however, possible to show that the Golden Rule is an evolutionarily stable strategy, and torture violates that normative philosophy.

Blair- people like you truly frighten me.

Josh- torture is great! Don't you ever watch '24'? Jack Bauer always tortures the right people and saves the world in the process.