force feedings at Gitmo

[drewkitty]

My Friends List will fall into three categories if I write what I think about the force feedings at Gitmo.

1) Humanists: "Ewww . . . they do that?!?!? Shove tubes down people's noses daily for years to force them to stay alive? How can I complain about this?"

2) Academics: "You know, that's an interesting psychwar technique. Especially when the former commandant at Gitmo had it done to himself just to prove that it's really a medical intervention and not torture. When doctors participate in forced feeding, are they within the bounds of the profession?"

3) Asshats: "Terrorists deserve anything that's done to them, what's the big deal? Some of the 'strikers' even complain if their force feedings are delayed."

I don't want to gross out my friends who are human beings. I don't really want to get into an academic discussion of the details of forced gastric feeding and its implications for liberty. I'm tired of providing a forum for asshats to display their asshattery.

I'm just going to point out one thing.

Force feeding is a technique borrowed from the American prison system.

Think about it!

Comments

[bradhicks.livejournal.com]

There's not much to think about, this is long-established international practice. Not only is it used to prevent suicide by hunger strike in US prisons, it's been used by governments all around the world, from Britain to China, ever since the IRA proved what an effective propaganda weapon it was to have your members starve to death while in captivity.

I mean honestly, the base commander didn't even need to do that publicity stunt. All he had to do was remain calm and say, "I am legally required to try to prevent suicides."