An upcoming article to be published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences, discusses the science behind the assumption that torture works:
…captives have information in long-term memory that they choose not to share. Extended application of techniques that will induce stress and discomfort will make the captives release the information. The underlying assumptions are that the coercive techniques are more effective than standard interrogations, and that the information they produce is reliable. O’Mara concludes this section by noting, “No supporting data for this model are provided; in fact, the model is utterly unsupported by scientific evidence.”
via Science behind US coercive interrogations missing in action – Ars Technica.
This, of course, will not stop ardent fans of torture like Dick Chenney. His world view has never been science or reality based in the first place. Torture fans seem to prefer truthiness to, you know, actual truth.
*Sierra Madre with Humphrey Bogart.
