US Prison Ships

In recent times, a new word has entered our vocabulary. Well, it’s not exactly a new word, but it has acquired a sinister connotation after 9/11. The word is "rendition". There’s even a recent movie named after it.

In its simplest terms, rendition means questioning prisoners and crime suspects without regard to legal niceties like Miranda rights and such. Till a couple of years ago, the really bad guys – translation: suspected Al Qaeda terrorists – were ‘rendered’ in countries like Syria, where torture is not only legal, but a routine method of interrogation. Unfortunately for the Department of Homeland Security, some do-gooder human rights groups got wind of this practice and – due to public and media pressure - they were forced to shut down the operation.

Not for long, however. You can’t keep a good government agent down. Suspects continue to be rendered, only this time round, they are confined in floating prisons – essentially, US warships in international waters. Presumably, water boarding and other interrogation techniques continue to be practiced although, not surprisingly, the authorities are ‘neither confirming nor denying’ this.

One of the attributes that makes the United States stand out among the nations of the worlds is its system of justice; and its fundamental belief that everyone has a right to legal counsel; and that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Like in most civilized nations, torture is illegal and, indeed, it would not be tolerated by a majority of Americans.

From a strictly legal standpoint, of course, the prison ships are in international waters and, hence, US laws do not apply. My question is this. If Americans believe that torture is abhorrent – as I believe they do – should they condone this practice; legal or not? There are many, of course, who will advance the hackneyed argument that extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Which side are you on?