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The Leonard Lopate Show / September 11, 2008 / Psychologists and Torture

Psychologists and Torture

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Some professionals are trying to force the American Psychological Association to bar its members from participating in coercive interrogations and torture. Dr. Steven Reisner is running for president of the APA on an anti-terror platform; Dr. Allan Keller is Director of the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture. Journalist Katherine Eban has written about psychologists and torture for Vanity Fair magazine.


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Comments

  • [1] Judith Rodenbeck from NYC September 11, 2008 - 12:12PM

    It's great that this story about what your guest calls "moral disengagement" is being covered. I just wanted to comment on a bit of terminological fuzziness that has allowed the discussion of US torture practices far more wiggle room than is rational. That is this:

    Waterboarding is NOT "simulated drowning" or any such ersatz/copy/fake. It is drowning stopped before it's fatal.


  • [2] jason from NYC September 11, 2008 - 12:19PM

    Take note that in President Bush's taped address to the Republican National Convention, he described John Mcains experience at the hands of the Viet Cong without using the word "torture". Fred Thompson did the same. Someone should ask Bush if he believes what was done to Mcain amounts to torture.
  • [3] Tara from New York, NY September 11, 2008 - 12:21PM

    I do not disagree about the things these guests are saying. But I do want to point out that this is not a balanced show as all the guests seem to be agreeing with each other. I'm sure there are individuals who also could have been invited on who would dispute what is being said.
  • [4] Denise Galligan from New Jersey September 11, 2008 - 12:30PM

    Hasn't Alan Dershowitz also been speaking out on allowable methods of torture! And this from a Harvard Professor.
  • [5] Julie from brooklyn September 11, 2008 - 12:39PM

    IT

    is war!

    I am so very tired of our country being, not only the world police, but the icon of civilization. We are people. That is all. People. Effectiveness has no bearing on the fact that individuals are wounded by the lengths that must be taken to protect, not only ones' family, but country. Wrap your head around that. No one ever said that arguing for the greater good was easy. And, furthermore, only through the advent of reason.
  • [6] Angelo from North Jersey September 11, 2008 - 12:50PM

    It's utterly reprehensible for this type of programming to take place on the anniversary of that day when America was mercilessly attacked by murderous islamic zealots.

    This is a day to respect our fallen countrymen and those heros who worked tirelessy to save them. Not to bash the Bush administration.

    I though I had heard it all on this station, but this was truly, the most disgusting display I have ever heard on NPR.

This thread is closed.


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