Brooke Bellah

National:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20364983/site/newsweek/

The American Psychological Association, based in DC, has banned its members from participating in interrogations that involve torture. These torture techniques include: simulated drowning, forced nakedness-- basically anything to do with using mind games to force information out of an individual. Any member who does involve themselves in assisting in the torture of an individual, or even FAILS TO REPORT the use of torture, faces the threat of losing their licenses. Most military psychologists in Guantanamo Bay are members of the APA. The APA bases this descision on the idea that torture is unethical and produces unreliable information. When asked why it does not produce accurate information, they responded, "We don't know exactly why; there hasn't been a scientific study".

Opinion:

The vote to ban all APA members from assisting in the torture of an individual, is not only ridiculous, but irresponsible. These prisoners have been acused of high war crimes and conspiracies. We need to extract information from them so that we can protect not only our country, but the rest of the world as well. The ban on not reporting acts of military torture for use of extracting life-saving information could even be considered treason. During a time of war, reporting anything that goes on behind closed doors at Guantanomo Bay is dangerous. It's not rocket-science.


International:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20305596/site/newsweek/

On last Wednesday, there was an 8.0 magnitude earthquake in the country of Peru. So far, at least 437 people are known to be dead. Many witnesses who survived the quake stated that they had witnesses a "white light" before the earthquake occured. This may have been due to power outages, but has not been completely explained. The aftermath has left over 80,000 families homeless. Several cities in Peru do not have morgues, and because coffins have not arrived yet, the dead were stacked together, outside, for several days. Also, the earthquake caused a large prison wall in Chincha to collapse releasing 600 "extremely dangerous" prisoners. President Garcia has issued a pledge of assistance for small businnesses and housing.

Opinion:
The largest earthquake I've ever heard of was maybe a 6.0. An 8.0 is almost impossible to imagine. At first mention of a "white light" my first thoughts race to a possible nuclear accident. Maybe a conspiracy ( just kidding, Mr. Hjort). But the theory of the lights from a power outage is the most likely cause. To think that it has taken so long to find a burial place for the dead makes me appreciate living in an organized country where we would never have to leave the dead out in the open for days on end. As for the escapees...they'll probably turn up somewhere eventually.