A Question of Torture: CIA Interrogation, from the Cold War to the War on Terror (American Empire Project)
by Alfred McCoy
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Book Summary Information
Author: Alfred McCoyEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-12-26
ISBN: 0805082484
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Holt Paperbacks
Book Reviews of A Question of Torture: CIA Interrogation, from the Cold War to the War on Terror (American Empire Project)
Book Review: CULT OF TORTURE?
Summary: 3 Stars
I read this book about eighteen months ago and found the book a mixture of inspired writing and not so inspired writing.
I have come back to review the book because two themes introduced in the book have reasonated in my mind over this period.
One of those is the idea that the taste for torture is an aquired taste. The author cites a couple of examples where the sadism that torture expresses instills itself in the people who begin the practice. It seems that once someone starts they can't stop.
The second theme is that torture breeds a cult of power. He cites as an example how the Phillipine military took over the government after they were thought the art of psychological torture by the CIA.
Both of these themes I believe are important in order to understand torture and its potential affects on society, and not just on those that have been trained by the CIA.
I agree with author that the use of psychological torture is widespread, and in I believe tolerated. How else can you account for Bush getting re-elected after it became evident that he had instituted a policy of torture.
I think the author would have done a better job with the book if instead of calling it "A Question of Torture" he would have called it - THE CULT OF TORTURE; which is what we have in the U.S.
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