A Question of Identity

This paper is the result of my efforts to understand the current debate on the use of torture as a tool in asymmetric warfare. Through my research, I learned the fundamental issues surrounding the use of torture and why many still consider it an acceptable means of warfare. Surprisingly, some reputable academics, politicians, and military professionals write about torture as an unfortunate but necessary recourse in the war on terror. While the majority of authors I found are against torture in all of its forms, there exists today an energetic debate about whether or not torture is effective at winning the war. The answer to that question haunts those on both sides of the torture debate. In this paper, I define "effective" as it relates to torture and I present findings which discriminate between torture's tactical utility and its strategic consequences. I submit that torture is not an effective tool in asymmetric warfare.