Opponents of these methods, among them some of the military's own interrogation experts, have argued, on the contrary, that "special methods" are not only ineffective but counterproductive: They might actually inspire Muslim terrorists instead of helping to defeat them.

Damn right, because they're too easy and that only breeds contempt by the prisoners and loss of respect for us and out military.

They should've used the shampoo method. Directions: shove head into dirty toilet so terrorist can mediate upon exactly how much shit and urine he is willing to inhale for his 72 virgins. Hold until terrorist begins to lose consciousness. Repeat Rinse until singing breaks out.

The entire story made no sense. If someone were actually putting the Koran pages down a toilet why would that make anyone cooperate? Wouldn't it just piss 'em off and make them more determined to be uncooperative? Especially since there was no real torture of prisoners to loosen their tongues.

We should've used the NYPD Shampoo technique.

As Ann Coulter might say: they'll whine about torture no matter what we do, so let's give 'em some!

The protest story apparently hasn't been confirmed either. See JustOneMinute.

Sullivan: REYNOLDS SUPPORTS TORTURE! TORTURE TORTURE TORTURE PUPPY BLENDER OMG WTF OMG OMG OMG OMG GGNORE!!!!1111

This would be more entertaining if Sullivan were better at flame wars.

"War is the remedy my enemy has chosen, and I say let him have all of it that he will have.

William Tecumsa Sherman

Godzilla (Insty) made a good point today when he characterized the media as failing to treat the Arabs as moral agents. I think this explains a lot of the problems I have with the coverage of the war. For example, Princess Amidala (Sully) focuses so much on the faux-torture at Abu Ghraib and ignores the actual-torture carried out in the Middle East by our enemies because he assumes Arabs do not have the capacity for moral choice. Thus, since we have that ability, our actions deserve sanction and are reprehensible. For the same reason, the Arabs actions are ignored or met with a shrug of the shoulders.

Since most or all of the dead were Moslems, perhaps we could really put Koran pages down toilets until they kill each other off.

The Princess Sully ... ignores the actual-torture carried out in the Middle East by our enemies because he assumes Arabs do not have the capacity for moral choice.

Yes, and he's right too, they do.

What I got out of scanning the links is that the Pentagon cannot confirm any tearing up of the Koran. They have one report, which they still need to confirm, indicating that a prisoner tore pages out of a Koran and tried to stop up a toilet with them as a means of protest.

Bottom line is that, while much of the world has progressed in a certain sense, violence has continued as a way of life in the Middle East for centuries. They don't need any other fuel to incite further violence than their own learned hatred.

As usual, Ann Coulter is slicing like a F'n Viking.

There were women vikings right? How about the fat lady at the opera with the bull horns on her helmet?

The F'n Bad Lady Sings

Since most or all of the dead were Moslems, perhaps we could really put Koran pages down toilets until they kill each other off.

Come on. Was this an attempt at humor? While I understand the sentiment, i.e. no more muslims means no more of the current shit with which we're dealing, I whole-heartedly disagree with it. Despite my limited knowledge of the teachings of the Koran and some of the murderous ideals it contains, most educated Muslims don't follow it to a 'T', just as many Christian followers don't always behave exactly as Christ would have them behave.

Difference is, faithfully following the teachings of Christ wouldn't result in worldwide tyranny, despotism, slavery, torture, and genocide.

Megan - Yes. Very simply, yes.

I doubt there are any readers of this site who are of the Muslim faith. I would like an honest reply to what she wrote.

I tend to think that while Islam goes to the other end of the spectrum, there's only a very small percentage of Christians who are really willing to 'turn the other cheek.' Likewise, maybe there is only a small percentage of Muslims willing to kill?

I can tell you, from my intensive (hours long) study of the proper handling of the Koran that this would definately be obscene! Hey, if licking your finger to turn the page is NEVER allowed then ripping and flushing is certainly a no no! DKK

Ace, We all know that Sullivan turned off alot of people prior to the election (me included) with his inability to see everything through the "pound me in the ass" prisim. He pretended to be neutral on the election, blah, blah, blah....and became transparent and predictable in the process.......ok, I'll say it.......enough with the Sullivan obsession. I would love to not have to hear anything ever again on your site about what that bone smoker is thinking. Pullezze.....enough already with Sullivan. Oh well, now I feel better and I can't wait to hear what your saying about him tomorrow.