The Szczytno Airport in northeast Poland, one-time host of

a CIA 'black site', where it seems that ‘renditioned’ detainees

were brought to be subjected to ‘enhanced interrogation

techniques,’ also known as torture.

Poland’s CIA Prison: ‘Little Boy Likes Torture; Wants to be Macho’ (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)

“What's so amazing about the willingness of conservative fans to fight a ‘war on terror’ at the expense of basic civil liberties is not so much their lack of sensitivity, but their lack of imagination. … A situation in which a brave officer must torture a terrorist to extract information about where a ticking time bomb is hidden is the fruit of a screenwriter's imagination – and the imaginations of certain columnists.”

By Adam Leszczyński

Translated By Halszka Czarnocka

July 18, 2012

Poland - Gazeta Wyborcza - Original Article (Polish)

Tomasz Wróblewski [photo, right] in Rzeczpospolita wants to defend the Western civilization by torturing terrorism suspects. You might as well burn books for the sake of art. I don’t know what a person’s mind must be missing not to understand that.

What’s so amazing about the willingness of conservative fans to fight a “war on terror” at the expense of basic civil liberties is not so much their lack of sensitivity, but their lack of imagination. “Having someone doused with water in Mazury [the region of Poland where a CIA ‘black site” was allegedly located] was not the most terrible thing in this war; innocent people were murdered in the attacks on the streets of London, Madrid, and New York,” writes Wróblewski in Rzeczpospolita.”

He is referring to the lawsuit brought by someone who was kidnapped by U.S. Special Forces, imprisoned without trial or court appearance, and tortured - very possibly in Poland.

Never mind the silly nonchalance that allows Wróblewski to call torture “dousing with water.” He would probably call burning with hot irons “raising the temperature of the conversation.” The so called “waterboarding” has been officially declared torture by the International Red Cross. Wikipedia says: “The immobilized prisoner is bound, which is tilted at an angle of 10-20 degrees. The head is below the level of his feet, the face is covered with cellophane and a wet or dry cloth, and water is poured over it. The prisoner begins to choke and kick his legs. A person tortured in this way gags and feels as if he were drowning.” I don’t wish this experience of “dowsing with water” on anyone, even the worst op-ed writers. 

But something more important is at issue here. Wróblewski believes that torture works. In other words, thanks to throwing all of the generally accepted norms of interrogation and civilized countries out the window, large numbers of people can be protected from attack. It is easy to find out, however, by reading, for instance, a paper by an American law professor from Indiana University, that this is not the case. A situation in which a brave officer has to torture a terrorist to extract information about where a ticking time bomb is hidden is the fruit of a screenwriter’s imagination – and the imaginations of certain columnists.

SEE ALSO ON THIS:

Rzeczpospolita, Poland: Criticism of Poland’s CIA Prison Discredits the Left

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland: Mystery Unfolds of Poland’s ‘Extraterritorial’ CIA Prison

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland: Ex-President Kwasniewski Admits He Approved CIA Prisons
Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland: America’s ‘Trojan Horse in Europe’ is About to Bolt

Dziennik, Poland: President Thanks Obama for Helping Dispel ‘Vicious Language’

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland: With Luck, Obama’s Gaffe will Put End to the Issue

Dziennik, Poland: Every Pole Must Protest Until Obama Apologizes

Rzeczpospolita, Poland: Tusk Tells Obama: ‘Words Very Deeply Hurt All Poles’
Rzeczpospolita, Poland: Obama’s ‘Death Camp’ Gaffe Has Done Poland a Favor

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland: ‘Polish’ Concentration Camps: ‘Major Blunder for Obama’
Telegraph, U.K.: Obama Insults 38 million Poles with Crass Remark

Daily Mail, U.K.: Aide Apologises Obama's Calling Death Camp 'Polish'
Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland: Poland Itself Must Investigate Secret CIA Prisons
Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland: Poland Beware: American Colossus Changes Course
Le Monde, France: Report Confirms CIA Ran Secret Prisons in Poland, Romania
Le Monde, France: Governments Across Europe Investigate CIA 'Renditions'
La Jornada, Mexico: Loughner - Carriles: Two Terrorists, One U.S. Double Standard
La Stampa, Italy: Now, Italy Must Gird for the Repercussions Over CIA Convictions 

Mr.Wróblewski asks us to opt out of the fundamental achievement of Western civilization: the right to be judged by a court, to be treated humanely as a prisoner, and the right not to be tortured. Wróblewski would let people in the secret services torture practically anyone they deem (rightly or not) deserving of it. The secret services, of course, would gladly welcome such freedom.

Posted by Worldmeets.US

Indeed, as far as the terrorists are concerned, this would be a success far greater than toppling the World Trade Center towers - that for fear of terrorism, Western civilization would destroy itself, striking at its own fundamental values. Let us add: with a little help from Mr. Tomasz Wróblewski.

Where does this acquiescence to violence come from? I would look for answers in the psychology typical of certain conservatives who believe themselves to be “tough guys,” for example, when calling for war in Iraq, the bombing of Iran or the torture of terrorists. One should be aware, though, that this has nothing to do with real politics. These are the dreams of a little boy who wants to be macho.