PoW torture

Found on the BBC, a news article showcasing former torturers.

I have mixed feelings about this - I understand that in times of war, information pried out of people will save lives, facilities, regions, and etcetcetc. That torture is necessary. However, I'm too young to have any sort of real appreciation of a wartime crisis. Plus, I'm such a goddamned wimp when it comes to pain.

But here's something interesting. As quoted from a South African ex-torturer :

"......Former colleague Paul Van Vuuren lost count of the number of people he tortured under apartheid, but is still proud of his skills. "There are all these movies about Rambo and stuff where they put electricity on his bodies and he's not talking. That's bullshit. There is no-one in the world; I haven't yet seen one guy that don't talk. I can take anyone on and make them talk, that's no problem."

Does Van Vuuren sound like he takes pride in his job? I dunno - you tell me. Does it take a special kind of personality to do this? I think so. With huge dollaps of national pride, amongst other things. Otherwise how does one live with it?

I think of my local friends who went into the Commandos during National Service. Of SF, an US Army Ranger based in South Korea's DMZ and with whom I have long since lost touch. Oh, and not forgetting the MasterChief, who is retired US Navy. I'm willing to bet all these men have been through something like this. Or trained for something like this. Such magnificent strength.

And you know what? I'm afraid to ask them what it's like, even if they'd been allowed to tell me. Afraid to ask what went through their heads. What they've been through during training.


I'm afraid I won't even have what it takes just to listen to them.