A Question of Torture: CIA Interrogation, from the Cold War to the War on Terror

The book written by Alfred McCoy (2006) entitled ‘A Question of Torture: CIA Interrogation, from the Cold War to the War on Terror’ speaks of CIA’s process of developing different forms of torture through practice of sensory deprivation and self-inflicted pain.These are done by means of isolation, hooding, manipulation of time, or by means of hours of standing, which was practiced by the U.S. CIA in Vietnam, in Iran, in Central America, and in Southeast Asia.   This, according to McCoy (2006), is not so much a physical torture but a psychological one that, if not improved or reassessed scrupulously, could affect and damage America’s good reputation and respectable global standing.Main BodyMcCoy (2006) opened his book with the scene by CBS Television of the Abu Ghraib prison that showed â€Å"Iraqis naked, hooded, and contorted in humiliating positions while U.S. soldiers stood over them, smiling† (p.5).   According to McCoy (2006),[T]hese photos are not, in fact, snapshots of simple sadism or a breakdown in military discipline†¦ [but] CIA torture methods that have metastasized like an undetected cancer inside the U.S. intelligence community over the past half century. (p.5)With its origin dating back to more than 50 years ago during the Cold War, this type of scenes and incidents promoted political scandals and controversies that reached even to the Bush’s administration of the interrogation policy.From the 1950 to 1962, CIA’s experiments on the best type of torture landed on psychological torture, or what was also called as the ‘no-touch’ type of torture.   The two new methods that were formulated was the use of ‘sensory disorientation’ and ‘self-inflicted pain’ that made the victim â€Å"feel responsible for their suffering and thus capitulate more readily to their torturers† (McCoy, 2006, p.8).As also indicated, â€Å"The fusion of these two techniques, sensory disorientation and self-inflicted pain, creates a synergy of physical and psychological trauma whose sum is a hammer-blow to the fundamentals of personal identity† (p.8).   After the year 1963, the no-touch method of torture included methods of ‘unimaginable cruelties’ in the form of physical as well as sexual harassments, such as the scenes at Abu Ghraib.The use of mind control by the CIA propagates evil torture, which leads to political scandal and ruin.   CIA’s basic purpose, of course, is for defense against foreign threats.   However, for the past 50 years, this type of torture of the America’s CIA reflected political and administrative wreck that tended to worsen as each decade passed.From the Phoenix program in Vietnam in the early ‘60s, immorality appears to be the basic framework of the American agenda of foreign defense and protection.   There were already incidents like these back in the 1960s; and to witness it alive and kicking until the 21st century is a huge sign that something wrong has been going on with America’s method of extricating criminals.

Influences affecting consumers buying fashionable clothes

Subject : Influences affecting consumers buying fashionable clothes There are many different factors which could afect the buying behaviour of the consumers when it comes to fashion and clothing. There are two types of behaviour,the individual type which depends on the individuals tastes and the environmantal type which depends on culture and society. We also bare in mind that most of the people we cater for, range from an age of 15 to and age of 30 years. As i mentioned previously culture is a very important factor when it comes to the production of clothes and fashion and we are very aware of it since our company is situated in india. Even now with the idea of globilization in today's young people's minds, there is still a tendency to follow the country's tradition or habbits which changes the buying behaviour of our potential customers drastically. Therefore we have to cater and adapt to the country's traditions and wants. It would be a big mistake to try and sell clothes that go against these people's culture or religion, because they simply won't buy them. But this dosent mean that we shouldn't produce clothes that go against these peoples culture since in the country there is a certain percentage of people not following this culture or same tradition. This percentage is called the sub-culture which is very important for our company. As a fashion clothing design company we should keep in mind gender. Nowadays gender are more or less equal so it is important to balance the stock we have for both sexes. Age is also important as i mentioned above. We must cater for the majority age group. Lifestyles also shouldn't be neglected. this area is extremely important when it comes to producing clothing. Since our main market are students there are two factors which influence their lifestyle. One influence are the reference groups and aspiration groups. A good example of these are famous people known to these students like singers or actors. These people manage to introduce any kind of fashion ranging from all sorts of weird fashion back to old fashioned ways of dressing. Therefore its hard but important to keep up to date wit these changes in fashion so that we can supply our customers with what they want. Another influence is family. Many times students are represented by the parents but its not that common anymore. Its more likely that they are represented by an older brother or sister. Social classes are very important to look at when producing clothes. In a country one finds different social classes and therefore there is a choice. We either cater for all the different classes or choose the class which has the majority of potential buyers. For example the Upper social class are more likely to buy a classic neet shirt or trousers whilst the middle social class would be happy wit a T-shirt and a pair non classy trousers, for example jeans. But since we are catering for a group of people who are students they are more likely to buy new fashion so we have to satisfy their needs buy selling them what they want like the latest fashion at a price that can satisfy their income. Another factor that i think should be mentioned is the marketing effort shown by the employees for hight customer recognition. If this is done it puts a vital good light on our brand and outlet. They should do their best to please the customer so that the customer gets a good impression and leaves the shop satisfied. All the factors mentioned above are very important and should be followed up to obtain a higher sales volume. They should be researched and examined and also kept up to date as much as possible. If this is done the company will have great success not only with its present customers but also with new ones to come.

Assess Mill's contribution to the philosophical understanding of the Essay

Assess Mill's contribution to the philosophical understanding of the value of individuality - Essay Example Throughout the paper, a detailed discussion will critically evaluate Mill’s contribution to the philosophical understanding to the value of individuality by examining key issues of debate, such as the context of both civil society and civil liberty, the elements of well-being, and an inquiry into social limits or constraints placed over an individual by means of laws and authority figures. In the course of On Liberty, Mill states two principles of demarcation. Although Mill raises serious objections to his first principle that suggests that the â€Å"only legitimate grounds for social coercion is to prevent someone from doing harm to others† (Mill, 1978, xv), he then suggests its defect by illustrating a second principle of demarcation. Although stating objections to his own principles, Mill attempts to allow the reader to appreciate the problem that he is addressing and to participate in his critical inquiry. (Mill, 1978, xvi) The basic subject of his essay remains a philosophical necessity, as it explains the â€Å"nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual†. (Mill, 1978, 1) As Mill remains a figure of direct contribution, his inquiries uncover the struggle between liberty and authority. Specifically, through a historical context, Mill’s contribution finds itself dealing with the earliest an d most familiar area of authority, particularly in that of Greece, Rome, and England. (Mill, 1978, 1) Accordingly, the liberty of an individual associates its meaning as â€Å"the protection against the tyranny of the political rulers.† (Mill, 1978, 1) Mill assesses the idea of society and its ability to execute wrong mandates instead of right, in which he claims it â€Å"practices a social tyranny† because it objects to the formation of any individuality that may form as a result of independent ideas and practices. (Mill, 1978, 1) Mill continues to debate

Organisations, Competition and Environment - Assignment for Higher Essay

Organisations, Competition and Environment - Assignment for Higher National Diploma in Business and Management - Essay Example Recently, the Czech Republic and other Eastern European countries were admitted into the European Union. I hypothesise that the entry of the Czech Republic has significant positive effects for companies in the European Union given that tariffs between the Czech Republic and other EU countries in general and the United Kingdom in particular have been eliminated. The aim of this paper is to prepare an article for a UK company that has operations in the Czech Republic describing the effects on the company of the Czech Republic’s admission into the Union. The rest of the paper is organised as follows: Section 2 describes the European Union how the admission of the Czech Republic into the Union has affected our chosen company, Section 3 presents a syllabus of the main points to be included in the article and Section 4 is a presentation of the article as it will be published in the companies periodicals. The European Union was formally established in 1992 by the Maastricht Treaty (Palmowski, 2003). The Maastricht treaty brought together the 3 pillars including: the European Community (EC) whose decisions were governed by the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament and guarded by the European Court of Justice; the Common Foreign and Security Policy, which is determined on the basis of intergovernmental cooperation in the European Council alone; Justice and Home Affairs. (Palmowski, 2003). The European Union was formed as a continuation of the process to promote an economic and political Union in Europe which began with the formation of the European Community after the Second World War. (Palmowski, 2003). In addition, in the 1980s, Europe became more concern about the internationalisation and globalisation of trade and politics in which small European States could only have an influential voice if they acted in coordination with each other. (Palmowski, 2003). The

The Effect of Sensory-Perceptual Information on Anxiety Level of Essay

The Effect of Sensory-Perceptual Information on Anxiety Level of Patients Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery - Essay Example This project paper outlines the problem, provides a comprehensive literature review and describes the planned interventions that are designed to provide CABG patients with the sensory-perceptual information they need in order to reduce their level of anxiety and increase coping skills. The project will be carried out within a hospital setting, utilizing all patients undergoing CABG who are referred by the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Each intervention is described in detail. Interventions will include a 12-minute video presentation, an informational brochure and informational sessions with the main researcher. At the individual information session, the researcher will adapt the information presented to fit with the cultural background, linguistic preference and health beliefs of the CABG patient. Table of Contents Chapter 1 Background and need for the project 4 Purpose of the project 7 Significance of the project 7 Theoretical Framework 8 Chapter 2 Search strategy 9 Review of literature 9 Studies investigating the association between anxiety/depression and CABG 9 Studies providing systematic literature reviews 12 Studies on educational intervention and other factors 13 Summary and discussion 15 Chapter 3 Implementation procedures 16 Chapter 4 The Project Teaching Plan 18 Objectives 21 Materials 22 Vocabulary 22 Motivation 23 Chapter 5 Summary 23 Conclusions 23 Implications for nursing 24 Recommendation for further study 24 Appendix 25 References 28 Chapter I Background and need for the project Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is a procedure that uses a healthy blood vessel to create a bypass, an arterial bridge, that allows blood to be routed around a blocked or diseased artery ("Coronary bypass," 2010). Typically the vessel used is taken from the patient's leg, although vessels from an arm, chest or the abdomen have also been used ("Coronary bypass," 2010). CABG restores normal blood flow to the heart, which produces a variety of beneficial e ffects, such as decreasing the risk for a heart attack. Furthermore, in many cases, the surgery reduces the symptoms being suffered by the patient, such as chest pain and shortness of breath. The principal goals of CABG are to alleviate the symptoms of angina, decrease heart attack risk and prolong and improve the quality of life (McKenzie, Simpson and Stewart, 2010). CABG is a procedure that is widely performed in all developed countries. The American Heart Association reported in 2005 that the annual procedure rate in the US was over 515,000 (Gallagher and McKinley, 2009). The procedure has a relatively low mortality rate and been proven to effectively alleviate the symptoms of angina (Gallagher and McKinley, 2009). Nevertheless, psychological problems, such as the development of anxiety and depression, have been widely reported in connection with patients who have undergone CABG surgery; and, it has been found that these psychological problems are often long-term, as research rep orts that anxiety and depression are evident in roughly one-fifth of CABG patients a year following the surgery (McKenzie, Simpson and Stewart, 2010). Problems with psychological adjustment can lead to adverse events. These adverse coronary events may include further hospitalization and even an increased incidence of mortality (McKenzie, Simpso

Child and the Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Child and the Law - Essay Example (B) Brief Facts In this problem Julie and Keith Morgan got married and begot 3 children, namely, Carly, Robbie, and George aged 16, 13 and 10 respectively, also known to the local authority in Somerfield. Keith has been imprisoned severally for dealing in drugs and petty theft. Their children were found wondering and loitering in the city on a Saturday evening. Carly was drunk and is allegedly engaging in prostitution. Robbie and George are mixing with older boys-involved in criminal activities. The local Authority is concerned and wishes to protect and safeguard them. Issues 1. Whether the Social Services Department (local authority) has any legal authority in both scenarios? 2. If issue 1 is answered in the affirmative, what are the powers and duties of the Local authority? 3. What is the Forum and procedure in the circumstances? Law applicable a) The Adoption and Children’s Act, 2002 [cap 38] b) The Children’s Act, 1989 [Cap 41] c) The Child Care Act, 2006 [cap 21] d ) The Children’s Act, 2004 [cap 31] e) The Children and Young Persons Act, 2008 [cap 23] f) The Local Services Act, 1970 [cap 72] g) Case law. Resolution of issues Issue No1: Yes. The local authority is vested with legal powers and duty to take care and protect any child from all forms of abuse â€Å"(Children’s Act, 2004, s.17 and 18).† A local authority is a â€Å"non- metropolitan organization† charged with the duty of protecting and safeguarding children who have been abandoned by their parents or who are being abused and neglected (Nigel and Douglas, 2007, P.693). Accordingly Section 1 and 7 of â€Å"the Local Authority Social Services Act (1970)†empowers Local authorities to protect and safeguard vulnerable children. Additionally, Section 17 and 18 of â€Å"the Children’s Act 2004)† and Section 31(10) and 47 of â€Å"the Children’s Act (1989)† empower an authority to investigate the vulnerability, neglect and abuse of children with the aim of gathering evidence that will assist the authority in discharging its duties. However, while investigating negligence and abuse of children, the authority should respect the rights of parents towards their children. Premafacie parents have rights and duties over their children and should not be deprived of that primary responsibility in what had been referred to as â€Å"family privatization† ( Nigel & Douglas, 2007, P. 477). For this reason, it’s the primary responsibility of the local authority to firstly promote the upbringing and safeguarding of children in cooperation with parents until they are unwilling to cooperate where upon the authority is empowered by law to take over that responsibility. Hence, it shall be the duty and power of the local authority to provide adequate care if children have been subjected to mental, physical and psychological impairment in their development. In doing so, regard should be given to â€Å"the childà ¢â‚¬â„¢s welfare as a paramount consideration (Children’s Act (1989, s.1 (1)).† The â€Å"welfare principle† is the litmus paper in protecting and safeguarding children from significant harm which the Social Services Department is obliged to fulfill. Welfare simply means the overall upbringing of children including the financial, moral, spiritual and general makeup of children. When the Local Authority has weighed the needs, wishes, risks, choices and all forms of circumstances surrounding the children as well as those of their parents, adherence to the â€Å"

Effect of Internet on Fraud and Identity Theft Essay

Effect of Internet on Fraud and Identity Theft - Essay Example The number of adult Americans with Internet access was expected to increase from about 88 million in mid-2000 to more than 104 million at the end of 2004. (Claburn, 2004)The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce approximated that in the fourth quarter of 2000, online retail sales amounted to $8.686 billion, a boost of 67.1 per hundred from the 4th quarter of 1999. (Haeberle, 2004) Total e-commerce sales for 2000 were an approximated $25.8 billion, accounting for 0.8 percent of all sales. Bankers, for instance, who conduct online banking transactions are particularly vulnerable to fraud and identity theft (Sullins, 2006). Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, the rise in e-commerce has become fertile ground for fraud, resulting in a loss of billions of dollars yearly worldwide (Bolton & Hand, 2002). Apparently, the fraudsters are quick to realize the potential of a new technology or system to propagate deception and identity theft, and early on exploit it to their benefit. Long-distance telemarketing became the channel of such criminal activity when it was first introduced in the 1970s. So too the pay-per-call service when it became accessible in the late 1980s. Internet technology is the newest attraction for opportunistic fraudsters who take advantage of it for personal gain. The problems facing law enforcers is the rapidly evolving techniques used by the fraudsters (Acoca, 2008). The rapid increase in the number of complaints associated with online deception and fraud bears this out: in 1997, the Commission obtained less than 1,000 Internet deception complaints; the following year, the number had expanded eight-fold. Although most Internet deceptions arise from customary scams, the variety of techniques ingeniously devised to exploit the new technology is quickly proliferating.