… the infliction of pain and suffering per se, whether it is physical or mental, is insufficient to amount to torture. [The pain] must be of such a high level of intensity that it is difficult for the subject to endure…
U.S. Pentagon lawyers, 2003
war is torture.
war releases
pain to the maximum
possible
degree.
amerikans are
easy armchair
war enthusiasts––
but then their
children come back
hurt––
arms or legs ripped
off or eyes put
out; the body
dead.
& what about
the consequence of
doing this to
others?
to kill someone’s
husband; the crippling
of someone’s
wife; the damaging
of a child for
life?
consider all the torn
& crumpled souls–– &
for how
long?
nightmares
rend apart the quiet
sleep.
the cancer awakes;
the nerves fray;
the conscience
dims.
the demon within
has made us
hate our
brothers––
or worse, it
has enabled us to
murder or to
maim without
caring.
our hands are
red with the blood
of others––
& our hearts are
too hard to hear them
scream.
we export
harm & profit
like warlords.
abandoned by
humanity, we
lost our hearts &
minds
& we shall surely
not taste
peace.