From: John Beckett 

Gene McAloon  wrote in message
news::
> On Sat, 8 May 2004 22:01:52 -0500, Bill Lucy  wrote:
>
> >In article , georger{at}nls.net says...
> >> torture for what purpose?
> >
> >Torture has no purpose but to torture.
>
> Silly statement. The torture in these kinds of cases is for the purpose of
> extracting information, either during the torturing or afterwards. In this
case
> it is even referred to as softening them up.
>
> Even sado-masochism has a purpose. Torture always has a purpose.

And the purpose of taking the photos was ...?

I think Bill makes a terrific point. Whereas some official may want
prisoners  tortured for a purpose, the perpetrators are acting out of other
motives, if they do it more than a couple of times.

John

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