"Coercive Interrogation"

I'm getting pretty tired of talking heads mindlessly deploying euphemisms when discussing the conduct of our government towards the detainees we abused. Particularly the phrases "enhanced interrogations" and "coercive interrogations." I say mindlessly because a few seconds of analysis completely unravels their effectiveness.

"Coercion" is not a substitute concept for "torture." Coercion occurs whenever someone exerts pressure to achieve a specific end. A raise in a poker hand is coercive - it exerts pressure on the other players to fold. A threatened fine is coercive - it pressures drivers to comply with the speed limit.

Torture is a method of coercion. Saying that a method is "coercive" does not rule out it being torture. Inflicting brutality on helpless people to force them to talk is coercive, yes. But it is also torture.

The term "enhanced" is even more bizarre. It invites the question, "enhanced with what?" Torture?

I mean, come on people. Make us work a little.

Joe H.