Commentary - Incorrectly categorizing torture

Talk about it

By Roger Hegland, CM Sgt, USAF (retired), Alexandria, MN

I must respond to the insulting diatribe by Dennis Dalman on torture [May 1, Echo Press]. As an alleged former newsperson did he ever interview any of those current terrorists? How can one believe them when they say they were tortured?

I am so completely disgusted at media who refuse to correctly categorize torture. I see no manifested signs of torture. Where are the broken limbs, etc? After I retired, I worked in the Air Force in a civilian capacity. I deployed personnel to Gitmo and the information I received from them was perplexing. The captured combatants ate better, had better sleeping accommodations, etc. than the American personnel deployed to monitor (serve) them.

Has Mr. Dalman ever interviewed any of the POWs from the Vietnam War? I had 24-plus years active duty in the Air Force and heard actual Vietnam POWs speak in person and had opportunity to question them. After their presentation about the torture they endured, there wasn’t a dry eye in the 200-plus airmen he was talking to. I would also ask if Mr. Dalman has read Robbie Risner’s book, The Passing of the Night. Torture was constant and severe over the entire time he was held. It was not to gain any information, but to try breaking his and other POWs’ spirits. Lieutenant Colonel Barry Bridger recently spoke at the University of North Dakota on the same topic and spoke of breaking bones and ripping flesh. I heard none of that in the current “complaints.”

Then there is Senator McCain. There is no question of my admiration of his service; he knows what real torture is. Why he has chosen the way he responds to questions of torture are known only to him. I’m sure recalling the torture has painful memories. It is evident he only has limited mobility in his upper torso as a result of his torture. Then to declassify top secret memos about them without progressing to the logical conclusion of the information obtained to put them in the proper perspective is unconscionable and proves the current media bias and complete ignorance by the declassifying official. As a person who had a top secret clearance and knowing why that classification is used, releasing these documents is totally without merit and in my opinion, borders on treason.

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