我们应该拷问嫌疑犯的信息吗？

Should We Torture Suspects for Information? 我们应该拷问嫌疑犯的信息吗？

People are divided about whether governments should torture people suspected of terrorism.

Torture involves severe physical or emotional pain to gain information from someone.

The Pew Research Center asked people in 38 nations if they believe torture is justified¹ to gain information from suspected terrorists about future attacks. The average support for torture in the 38 countries was 40 percent.

Governments sometimes defend torture as a way of learning about a planned terrorist attack so they can take action to prevent it.

But a U.S. Senate Committee report said brutal² questioning of suspects does not work. In 2014, the committee said torture was “not an effective means of acquiring intelligence or gaining cooperation” from terrorist suspects.

The most support for torture came from people in Uganda. Seventy eight percent of Ugandans polled by the Pew Research Center said they support torture against suspected terrorists.

Other countries with more than 58 percent support for torture were Lebanon, Israel, Kenya, Nigeria and the United States, Pew said.

All those nations have experienced terrorist attacks.

The lowest percentages of support for torture came from people in Argentina, Ukraine, Venezuela, Chile and Indonesia. Support in those five nations was 22 percent or less.

Richard Wike of the Pew Research Center reported recently on the research about support for torture. It was based on interviews that Pew did last year.

He said people who believe their own governments should use torture were more likely to support the United States' response to the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The deadly attacks on New York City and Washington D.C. led the George W. Bush administration to permit tougher treatment of suspected terrorists. It included keeping suspects awake for long hours, playing loud music and “waterboarding.”

Waterboarding is when water is poured on a cloth covering the face of a captive. It makes people feel they are drowning. Critics called the treatment torture, but the Bush administration denied this.

The treatment of terrorism suspects drew criticism. U.S. Senator John McCain, a Republican from Arizona, said torture is not effective and could subject U.S. troops to similar treatment.

President Barack Obama, who beat McCain in the 2008 presidential race, issued an order banning torture after his election win.

Businessman Donald Trump³, a leading Republican presidential candidate, said he supports waterboarding to deal with Islamic State terrorists.

“We're like living in medieval times. If I have to do it and if it's up to me, I would absolutely bring back waterboarding," Trump told ABC.

Words in This Story

means - n. way or method

acquiring - v. to come to have or to get something

tougher - adj. stronger

drew - v. led to

issued - v. to give something in an official way; released

medieval – adj. of or relating to the Middle Ages -- relating to the period of European history from about A.D. 500 to about 1500

absolutely – adv. in a complete way; not limited

1 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

2 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

3 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。