This might be of interest to you:
Wantchekon, L. and Healy A. 1999. The "Game" of Torture. Journal of Conflict Resolution.
Thanks Trung!
I responded to Tucker's original post at Lawyers, Guns and Money.
http://lefarkins.blogspot.com/20...ting-
their.html
My take on it remains that no scientist should hide findings, but nor should it be concluded that if torture is shown to be effective that it should therefore be used.
Good point, Charli. Even IF it were to be found effective, I'd oppose it.
Before we get into "ticking bomb" scenerios (which almost never happen anyway, and to the extent they do happen they are never as simple as presented) and so forth, I'd like to add another dimension: individual conscience versus state policy. I can imagine circumstances where an individual might use torture, so long as it clear that act is not authorized. In other words--as I tell my international security types--if you are so convinced that torture is the way to save a group of innocent people, you should be willing to risk your life (as well as that of the person you are harming). Right or wrong in your assessment, you should be prepared (and expect) to be brought up on charges and punished to the full extent of the law.
In fact, I might go farther: any torturer should expect that his punishment will include being subjected to the same treatment that he gave to others. But I don't think so. That policy raises the prospect of sanctioning or punishing the torture of the torturers, and we're in a loop.
However, there should be the expectation of a serious penalty. Then, if the "noble" soul who is willing to inflict pain "for the greater good" is really so noble, he'd figure his punishment was the moral equivalent of jumping on a hand grenade to save others. If he's not really THAT heroic, the prospect should deter him. Either way, the State maintains a standard.
P.S. For a good perspective on interrogation techniques in Iraq (and the internal arguments over how to proceed) see Matthew Alexander (with John Bruning), How to Break a Terorist. Their main point is "brains, not brutality" is the way to get information. It's more difficult, but much more effective and reliable.
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