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The term '''torture''' refers to acts which inflict severe pain or mutilation on prisoners. Governments, armies and tyrants have inflicted torture on opponents throughout recorded history, chiefly against [[slave]]s and [[rebel]]s, but also against political or religious dissidents.

The term '''torture''' refers to physical and/or psychological acts which inflict severe pain or mutilation on prisoners. Governments, armies and tyrants have inflicted torture on opponents throughout recorded history, chiefly against [[slave]]s and [[rebel]]s, but also against political or religious dissidents.

In the West, the best known cases of torture were inflicted by ecclesiastical and political authorities during the [[Middle Ages]]. A well-known example from historical fiction occurs in ''[[Ivanhoe]]'', and well-known examples from real history can be found in the [[Malleus Maleficarum]],<ref>[http://www.malleusmaleficarum.org/ The Malleus Maleficarum]</ref> a manual for [[Witch Hunt|witch hunters]]. Opposition to torture on [[human rights]] grounds began in the 20th century, yet torture persists in countries as diverse as [[Saudi Arabia]], [[China]] and [[Sudan]]. <!-- too grisly and disgusting to mention here, but go read The Epoch Times for China. I might talk about ants and hamstringing in the Sudan article. Ed Poor. -->

In the West, the best known cases of torture were inflicted by ecclesiastical and political authorities during the [[Middle Ages]]. A well-known example from historical fiction occurs in ''[[Ivanhoe]]'', and well-known examples from real history can be found in the [[Malleus Maleficarum]],<ref>[http://www.malleusmaleficarum.org/ The Malleus Maleficarum]</ref> a manual for [[Witch Hunt|witch hunters]]. Opposition to torture on [[human rights]] grounds began in the 20th century, yet torture persists in countries as diverse as [[Saudi Arabia]], [[China]] and [[Sudan]]. <!-- too grisly and disgusting to mention here, but go read The Epoch Times for China. I might talk about ants and hamstringing in the Sudan article. Ed Poor. -->

==Iraq war==

==Iraq war==

In a raid on an [[al-Qaeda]] safe house in Iraq, U.S. military officials recovered an assortment of crude drawings depicting torture methods like "blowtorch to the skin" and "eye removal." Along with the images soldiers seized various torture implements, such as meat cleavers, whips, and wire cutters. The images, declassified by the Department of Defense, also include a picture of a ramshackle Baghdad safe house described as an "al-Qaeda torture chamber." It was there, during an April 24, 2007 raid, that soldiers found a man suspended from the ceiling by a chain. According to the military, he had been abducted from his job and was being beaten daily by his captors. Earlier Coalition Forces freed five Iraqis who were found in a padlocked room in Karmah. The group, which included a boy, were reportedly beaten with chains, cables, and hoses.<ref>[http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0524072torture9.html Torture, Al-Qaeda Style]  

In a raid on an [[al-Qaeda]] safe house in Iraq, U.S. military officials recovered an assortment of crude drawings depicting torture methods like "blowtorch to the skin" and "eye removal". Along with the images, soldiers seized various torture implements, such as meat cleavers, whips, and wire cutters. The images, declassified by the Department of Defense, also include a picture of a ramshackle Baghdad safe house described as an "al-Qaeda torture chamber." It was there, during an April 24, 2007 raid, that soldiers found a man suspended from the ceiling by a chain. According to the military, he had been abducted from his job and was being beaten daily by his captors. Earlier Coalition Forces freed five Iraqis who were found in a padlocked room in Karmah. The group, which included a boy, were reportedly beaten with chains, cables, and hoses.<ref>[http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0524072torture9.html Torture, Al-Qaeda Style]  

Drawings, tools seized from Iraq safe house in U.S. military raid, May 24, 2007.</ref>

Drawings, tools seized from Iraq safe house in U.S. military raid, May 24, 2007.</ref>

===CIA torture program===

===CIA torture program===

[[File:John-brennan.jpg|right|450px|thumb|John Brennan, the mastermind behind the CIA [[torture]] program, the execution of [[bin Laden]] to aid [[Barack Hussein Obama]]'s re-election chances, the hacking into the Senate Intelligence Oversight Committee's computers to thwart investigators, the man who decides who lives and who dies on Obama's kill list, instrumental in putting the plot in motion to destroy [[President Trump]]'s presidency over a perceived insult and Trump's questioning why [[NATO]] has strayed from its stated mission of collective defense by engaging in aggressive war in Libya, and Trump's refusal to go along with the globalist agenda for a new Cold War with Russia.<ref>http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2017/03/20/conspiracy-president-trump/</ref>]]

[[File:John-brennan.jpg|right|450px|thumb|John Brennan was the mastermind behind the CIA [[torture]] program, the execution of [[bin Laden]] to aid [[Barack Hussein Obama]]'s re-election chances, the hacking into the Senate Intelligence Oversight Committee's computers to thwart investigators, and the man who decides who lives and who dies on Obama's kill list, instrumental in putting the plot in motion to destroy [[President Trump]]'s Presidency over a perceived insult and Trump's questioning why [[NATO]] has strayed from its stated mission of collective defense by engaging in aggressive war in Libya, and Trump's refusal to go along with the globalist agenda for a new Cold War with Russia.<ref>http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2017/03/20/conspiracy-president-trump/</ref>]]

The controversy over warrantless wiretaps was always only cover for the real source where information was gained - Brennan's torture program. At the same time it served public notice Americans had to surrender some freedoms and civil liberties to a group of insiders who knew what was best for them. Legalities didn't matter anymore.  

The controversy over warrantless wiretaps was only cover for the real source where information was gained - Brennan's torture program. At the same time, it served as public notice that Americans had to surrender some freedoms and civil liberties to a group of insiders who knew what was best for them. Legalities didn't matter anymore.  

During "a profanity-laced screaming match at the [[White House]]" in August 2009<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/print?id=8398902 Obama White House v. CIA; Panetta Threatened to Quit Tensions Lead to CIA Director's "Screaming Match" at the White House], Matthew Cole, Richard Espisito, and Brian Ross, ''[[ABC News]]'', August 24, 2009.</ref> [[CIA]] Director [[Leon Panetta]] protested Obama's decision to create a team of interrogators overseen by the White House.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112169988 ''White House To Oversee New Interrogation Team''], Dina Temple-Raston, npr.org August 24, 2009.</ref> Responsibility for interrogations of suspects was shifted away from the CIA, and the White House National Security Council staff given direct control.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/23/AR2009082302598.html ''New Unit to Question Key Terror Suspects - Move Shifts Interrogation Oversight From the CIA to the White House]'', Anne E. Kornblut, ''[[Washington Post]]'', August 24, 2009.</ref> Brennan was placed in charge of the program.

During "a profanity-laced screaming match at the [[White House]]" in August 2009<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/print?id=8398902 Obama White House v. CIA; Panetta Threatened to Quit Tensions Lead to CIA Director's "Screaming Match" at the White House], Matthew Cole, Richard Espisito, and Brian Ross, ''[[ABC News]]'', August 24, 2009.</ref> [[CIA]] Director [[Leon Panetta]] protested Obama's decision to create a team of interrogators overseen by the White House.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112169988 ''White House To Oversee New Interrogation Team''], Dina Temple-Raston, npr.org August 24, 2009.</ref> Responsibility for interrogations of suspects was shifted away from the CIA, and the White House National Security Council staff given direct control.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/23/AR2009082302598.html ''New Unit to Question Key Terror Suspects - Move Shifts Interrogation Oversight From the CIA to the White House]'', Anne E. Kornblut, ''[[Washington Post]]'', August 24, 2009.</ref> Brennan was placed in charge of the program.

== Common methods ==

== Common methods ==

Torture is widely practiced in many countries throughout the world as a means of intimidating the ruling regime's opponents. Amnesty International in Asia & the Pacific states that incidences of torture or ill treatment by the police have been reported in over 140 different countries since 1997.<ref>http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/apro/aproweb.nsf/pages/knowTortureContext</ref> By far most commonly reported method of torture is physical beatings - other commonly reported methods include:  

Torture is widely practiced in many countries throughout the world as a means of intimidating the ruling regime's opponents. Amnesty International in Asia & the Pacific states that instances of torture or ill treatment by the police have been reported in over 140 different countries since 1997.<ref>http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/apro/aproweb.nsf/pages/knowTortureContext</ref> By far most commonly reported method of torture is physical beatings - other commonly reported methods include:  

* [[Rape]] and [[sexual abuse]] in custody  

* [[Rape]] and [[sexual abuse]] in custody