State of Exception | Mark Danner | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Mark Danner discusses the issue of torture in the context of the American war on terrorism and the belief that torture is necessary to protect the country.

Transcript

Sandy Deason: Well, thank you for being here. My name is Sandy Deason and I'm part of the Authors @ Google program and we are very excited to have Mark Danner here today. Just to give you a little history. For the past two decades, Mr. Danner has reported from Latin America, Haiti, the Balkans, in the Middle East. His perceptive award winning dispa... Read More

Key Insights

• 😒 The state of exception in the war on terror has led to the use of torture and changes in laws regarding surveillance and interrogation.
• 😒 The issue of torture has become a political debate, with Republicans often supporting its use and Democrats opposing it.
• 🌎 The belief in America as a nation that takes the high road has been challenged by the use of torture and other human rights abuses.
• 🪡 The effectiveness of torture is still disputed, and there is a need for further investigation to determine its true impact.
• 🤨 The discussion of torture raises moral and pragmatic questions, weighing the public good against individual protections.
• 🇨🇫 The portrayal of torture in popular culture, such as "Dirty Harry" and "24," has influenced public opinion and political discourse on the topic.

Questions & Answers

Q: Who is Mark Danner and what is his book about?

Mark Danner is a journalist and author who has reported on political violence and power around the world. His book, "Stripping Bare the Body," explores the connection between political violence, war, and torture.

Q: What is the state of exception?

The state of exception refers to a period in which a different governing consensus is established, often through martial law, state of emergency, or state of siege. In the context of the war on terror, the state of exception includes the use of torture and changes in laws regarding surveillance and interrogation.

Q: What techniques were used in interrogations?

Interrogations involved techniques such as forced nudity, extreme temperatures, sleep deprivation, stress positions, and waterboarding. These techniques were approved at the highest levels of the government and were used across various agencies.

Q: Did torture produce valuable information?

The effectiveness of torture is a contentious issue. While some interrogators believe it can yield valuable information, many professionals argue that it produces unreliable or false information. There is no clear consensus on its effectiveness.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Mark Danner talks about his book "Stripping Bare the Body" which explores political violence, war, and torture.

• He explains that torture is a "state of exception" in which the government builds a different governing consensus, including laws regarding wiretapping and extraordinary rendition.

• Danner highlights the evolution of torture techniques, the effectiveness of torture, and the political discourse surrounding torture in America.