418 - A Brief(ish) History of Torture
3Digest
This podcast delves into the dark history of torture, tracing its evolution from ancient civilizations to modern times. It begins with a thought experiment about torture, prompting listeners to consider the brutality of different methods. The episode then explores the historical context of torture, highlighting its use by governing bodies for punishment and information extraction. The podcast examines various torture methods, including impalement, flaying, crucifixion, and the breaking wheel, showcasing the creativity and brutality of these practices. It also delves into the use of torture devices like the Scavenger's Daughter, Manacles, and rat torture, highlighting their effectiveness in inflicting pain and extracting confessions. The episode explores the evolution of waterboarding, tracing its origins and its use by the CIA in the 20th century. It also examines the concept of Chinese water torture, its invention by an Italian lawyer, and its effectiveness as a torture method. The podcast then shifts to the development of survival training programs in the US military, particularly the inclusion of torture resistance training. It highlights the impact of the Korean War and the Geneva Conventions on these programs, emphasizing the importance of will to survive in enduring torture. The episode examines the use of torture by the US government in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, including the establishment of Guantanamo Bay detention camp and the authorization of "enhanced interrogation techniques." It highlights the controversial use of waterboarding and other methods against detainees. The podcast concludes by discussing the characteristics of torture throughout history, including its use against marginalized groups, its rarity against citizens, its prevalence during times of perceived threat, and its reduction due to the rise of human rights norms.
Outlines
The History of Torture
This episode explores the history of torture, examining its methods, motivations, and impact across different eras, from ancient times to the present day. It begins with a thought experiment about torture, prompting listeners to consider the brutality of different methods. The episode then explores the historical context of torture, highlighting its use by governing bodies for punishment and information extraction.
Torture in Antiquity
This chapter examines the use of torture in ancient civilizations, focusing on methods like impalement, flaying, and crucifixion. It highlights the brutality of these practices and their use as a means of public display of power.
Medieval Torture Methods
This chapter explores the creative and brutal torture methods used during the medieval period, often justified in the name of God. It discusses devices like the breaking wheel, breast ripper, and rat torture, showcasing their effectiveness in inflicting pain and extracting confessions.
Defining Torture
This chapter defines torture according to the United Nations, highlighting the use of physical or mental harm for information or punishment. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the legal definition of torture to prevent its use.
Torture in the Tower of London
This chapter focuses on the Tower of London, a notorious prison where torture was prevalent in the 16th and 17th centuries. It discusses the use of devices like the rack and the Scavenger's Daughter, highlighting their effectiveness in extracting information from enemies of the crown.
The Evolution of Waterboarding
This chapter delves into the history of waterboarding, tracing its origins and its use by the CIA in the 20th century. It also explores the concept of Chinese water torture, its invention by an Italian lawyer, and its effectiveness as a torture method.
Survival Training and Torture Resistance
This chapter examines the development of survival training programs in the US military, particularly the inclusion of torture resistance training. It highlights the impact of the Korean War and the Geneva Conventions on these programs, emphasizing the importance of will to survive in enduring torture.
The Code of Conduct and Will to Survive
This chapter focuses on the code of conduct that US soldiers are expected to uphold, even when captured. It emphasizes the importance of will to survive in enduring torture and provides examples of POWs who used their will to escape captivity.
Torture in the Vietnam War
This chapter explores the brutal torture methods used against American POWs during the Vietnam War, including food reduction, sleep deprivation, and physical abuse. It recounts the harrowing experience of Eugene Red McDaniel, a Navy captain who endured six years of torture.
The Debate on Torture
This chapter examines the debate on torture, particularly the "window of truth" theory, which suggests that torture can produce truthful information under certain conditions. It includes the perspective of Leo Thorsness, a retired Air Force Colonel and Medal of Honor recipient, who argues that torture can be effective in extracting information.
Torture in the War on Terror
This chapter explores the use of torture by the US government in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, including the establishment of Guantanamo Bay detention camp and the authorization of "enhanced interrogation techniques." It highlights the controversial use of waterboarding and other methods against detainees.
The Ethics of Detention
This chapter focuses on the case of Abu Zabada, a Palestinian man detained by the CIA for over 20 years without being charged with a crime. It raises questions about the ethics of indefinite detention and the use of torture against individuals who may be innocent.
Torture in the Present Day
This chapter examines the use of torture by Iranian security forces against protesters in 2022 and 2023. It highlights reports of rape, sexual assault, and other forms of torture used to intimidate and punish peaceful dissent.
Characteristics of Torture Throughout History
This chapter summarizes the four major characteristics of torture throughout history, including its use against marginalized groups, its rarity against citizens, its prevalence during times of perceived threat, and its reduction due to the rise of human rights norms.
Keywords
Impalement
A form of execution where a victim is pierced with a stake, often through the anus or torso, causing excruciating pain and slow death.
Flaying
The act of skinning a person alive, a brutal form of torture practiced by ancient Assyrians and Aztecs, often used as a public display of power.
Crucifixion
A method of execution where a victim is nailed or tied to a cross, causing excruciating pain and death by suffocation, blood loss, and organ failure.
Breaking Wheel
A medieval torture device where a victim is tied to a wheel and their limbs are broken by repeated blows with a mallet or club.
Rat Torture
A method of torture where a cage containing a hungry rat is placed on a victim's belly, with burning coals placed on top, forcing the rat to bite and claw its way out.
Scavenger's Daughter
A torture device invented in the 16th century, consisting of a heavy iron frame that was used to crush the victim's chest and limbs. It was primarily used against rebels, particularly Irish rebels.
Waterboarding
A torture method involving wrapping a cloth around the victim's head, covering their mouth and nose, and pouring water over it, creating the sensation of drowning. It has been used throughout history, including by the CIA in the 20th century.
Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Training
A training program implemented by the US military to prepare personnel for potential capture and torture. It includes training on survival, evasion, resistance, and escape techniques.
Q&A
What are the two main categories of torture discussed in the episode?
The two main categories of torture are penal torture, used as punishment for wrongdoing, and judicial torture, used to extract information.
What are some of the most common torture methods used in the age of antiquity?
Impalement, flaying, and crucifixion were common torture methods in the age of antiquity, often used by empires like the Assyrians, Persians, and Romans.
How did the use of torture change during the medieval period?
The medieval period saw a rise in creative and brutal torture methods, often justified in the name of God, with devices like the breaking wheel, breast ripper, and rat torture becoming popular.
What is the significance of the Tower of London in the history of torture?
The Tower of London was a notorious prison where torture was widely used in the 16th and 17th centuries, with devices like the rack and the Scavenger's Daughter being employed to extract information from enemies of the crown.
What is the main takeaway from the episode about the history of torture?
The episode highlights the brutality and inhumanity of historical torture methods, emphasizing the importance of understanding the past to prevent similar atrocities from happening again.
How did the US military's survival training programs evolve to include torture resistance?
The Korean War and the Geneva Conventions prompted the US military to incorporate torture resistance training into its survival programs. This training aimed to prepare soldiers for potential capture and interrogation by hostile forces.
What are the main aspects of SERE training?
SERE training encompasses four main aspects: survival, evasion, resistance, and escape. Resistance training focuses on providing personnel with the skills and information needed to endure psychological and physical torture.
What are some of the "enhanced interrogation techniques" used by the CIA?
The CIA's "enhanced interrogation techniques" included waterboarding, sleep deprivation, confinement in small cages, and medically unnecessary invasive procedures like rectal feeding. These methods were often used against detainees at Guantanamo Bay and other CIA black sites.
What are the four major characteristics of torture throughout history?
Torture has been used against marginalized groups, is rarely used against citizens, is more common during times of perceived threat, and has been reduced due to the rise of human rights norms.
Show Notes
When did we meatsacks start torturing one another? How did we do it? How have torture methods changed over the years, and what are some of the worst torture methods of all time? Where does the "music" of Yoko Ono fit into all this? Covering so much strange information today.
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my ex sister in law had to go through Seer training. the most mild torture she would tell us about was being put in a hole in the ground that she couldn't sit OR fully stand in with a lid secured. left in there for who knows how long but felt like hours. oh & she got spit on by the "hostage takers"...