lkk@mit-eddie.UUCP (Larry Kolodney) (11/08/84)
Food for thought:
EXPORT OF `TORTURE' TOOLS APPROVED
NEW YORK (Reuter) -- The Commerce Department has authorized the
export of what it calls ``specially designed implements of torture''
to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and members of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, Newsweek Magazine said yesterday.
The magazine said that when a Commerce Department spokesman was
asked about the ``torture'' instruments, he said they included
``thumbscrews and cattle prods -- just routine items for the police.''
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larry kolodney (The Devil's Advocate)
UUCP: ...{ihnp4, decvax!genrad}!mit-eddie!lkk
ARPA: lkk@mit-mccjk@ccice2.UUCP (Aspiring Terminator) (11/11/84)
> Food for thought: > > > EXPORT OF `TORTURE' TOOLS APPROVED > > NEW YORK (Reuter) -- The Commerce Department has authorized the > export of what it calls ``specially designed implements of torture'' > to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and members of the North Atlantic > Treaty Organization, Newsweek Magazine said yesterday. > The magazine said that when a Commerce Department spokesman was > asked about the ``torture'' instruments, he said they included > ``thumbscrews and cattle prods -- just routine items for the police.'' > ------- > ------- > > -- > larry kolodney (The Devil's Advocate) > > UUCP: ...{ihnp4, decvax!genrad}!mit-eddie!lkk > > ARPA: lkk@mit-mc Larry, I think you're a little off base. While it's true that the DoD has been exporting weapons to other countries; it's not as if these are weapons that are not commercially available here in the US. I'm speaking of course about giant shears. Now if you feel that these don't qualify because they cause a quick and painless death, just send your full name and address to me and I will seek to remedy the situation. TRUTH IN SNIPS
renner@uiucdcs.UUCP (11/12/84)
> NEW YORK (Reuter) -- The Commerce Department has authorized the > export of what it calls ``specially designed implements of torture'' > to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and members of the North Atlantic > Treaty Organization, Newsweek Magazine said yesterday. > The magazine said that when a Commerce Department spokesman was > asked about the ``torture'' instruments, he said they included > ``thumbscrews and cattle prods -- just routine items for the police.'' > larry kolodney (lkk@mit-eddie) This article raises all sorts of interesting questions, none of which have any plausible answers. There's no special technology involved here -- I could probably assemble a working set of thumbscrews with a 10-minute trip to the hardware store. So, assuming that these countries want to use thumbscrews, why get them from the US? That (apparently) requires an export permit, and results in embarrassing Reuters news articles. Why not just have Sgt. Krank build a set in the basement? Sorry, but the whole thing sounds like disinformation to me. Scott Renner {pur-ee,ihnp4}!uiucdcs!renner
6912ar04@sjuvax.UUCP (rowley) (11/21/84)
(bug off--->)
It may be routine, but that hardly makes it justifiable!
ENTER RANT MODE--------->
Anybody who makes the exportation of implements used for torture should
in turn be subjected to treatment including the use of these items on
themselves!
EXIT RANT MODE---------->
Thumbscrews... how medieval!!!!!!! :-)
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A. J. Rowley
"see, no problem!"
There is no dark side of the moon really; as a matter of fact, it's all dark....
- Pink Floyd, "Eclipse"