torture

[Touchstone]

do we know of instances where such practices led to the saving of lives?

I don't. But I'm willing to accept that there probably have been instances. That doesn't change my view though. [I never said that it never works. I simply said that it is not reliable.]

isn't it like morality; subjective as to whether it works or not.

I don't think so. You only need to remember when you were a kid (or had kids) and tickled them until they said whatever it was that you had told them to say if they wanted you to stop tickling them. Confessions to anything WILL be obtained when you torture someone.

i think many people would tell you what they think you want to know when being tortured but i think the odds of them telling you something you can corroborate much more likely than simply asking with a pleasant tone of voice. (unless of course they know nothing)

I hardly think there is anything "subjective" about torturing someone who knows nothing. And how do you know they know nothing until you've exhausted your most extreme tortures--on the innocent party.

what are the penalties for breaking the geneva con and how can they be enforced. wouldn't a country imply state it no longer wants to be part of the organisation?

I doubt there are any penalties. Theoretically there are but in practice crimes committed by a state are very rarely prosecuted. Only after military invasions and many years later.

i think that it's probably used much more than it should be.

Oh certainly. We know the US tortures prisoners so it's reasonable to assume many other countries do so..