American torture. For years, philosophers, jurists, and legal theorists struggled with American use of torture in the war on terror. Just a few days after the events of the September 11th attacks, President George Bush was authorizing the use of torture on suspected members of international terrorist organizations. After a few months, American leaders were… Continue reading An American Torture Story /// 101
Author: battlecastnet
A History of Torture in America /// 100
This is a history of torture on the North American continent, including Native American, Canadian and United States torture practices. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast – the world’s foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact. This is part six of an ongoing series on torture. You can find part five… Continue reading A History of Torture in America /// 100
A History of the Cambodian Genocide /// 99
The Cambodian Genocide was a second holocaust. Approximately 1.6 million human beings were killed in the terrible bloodletting. But the genocide was unique – it’s one of the only cases in human history where people from the same ethnic group murdered whole segments of its own population – guilty of being born in the wrong… Continue reading A History of the Cambodian Genocide /// 99
Gulag: A History of Soviet Torture /// 98
The Soviet punitive system was the heir of literally hundreds of years of secret police interrogation. For centuries, the Czar’s secret police had tortured, refined, and perfected the art of interrogation – all of it based on practice – not theory. That is why American researchers were so amazed at the Soviet interrogation success rate.… Continue reading Gulag: A History of Soviet Torture /// 98
The Inquisition: A History /// 97
The Inquisition: it’s a byword for tyranny in much of the Western world – especially among the English-speaking peoples of the world. In today’s episode the surprising origins, history, and impact of the Inquisition are detailed. In addition, this episode features a concise history of torture in India. It’s all here and it’s all free… Continue reading The Inquisition: A History /// 97
The Moment of Decision in Korea: A Case Study of Power
On Friday, January 3, police officers attempted to arrest suspended South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol. The police entered the grounds of the president’s residence where they were met by armed soldiers loyal to President Suk Yeol. The two groups clashed. The BBC reports (Mackenzie, 2025): As dawn broke, the first officers ran up to… Continue reading The Moment of Decision in Korea: A Case Study of Power
A History of Torture: Roman, Christian and South American /// 96
This is part two of an ongoing series providing an exhaustive history of torture. All forms of torture, including forms never detailed in any other history of torture, will be covered in this series. Come and hear the way men share their love for one another. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast… Continue reading A History of Torture: Roman, Christian and South American /// 96
An Universal Institution: The Definitive History of Torture /// 95
“Torture was legal, morally accepted, and commonplace in most ancient, medieval, and early modern societies.” This was the way historian Christopher Einolf succinctly described the history of torture: ubiquitous, common; in short: everywhere. Torture is a sort “reverse” gospel – as it is written in Il Libro Dell’avversario, chapter 6: And when the wealthy governors… Continue reading An Universal Institution: The Definitive History of Torture /// 95
The Historical Atlas of Torture
Torture. It’s a universal institution of almost all mankind. As Carl Schmitt notes, the story of Cain and Abel, which is accepted by Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, is a story that demonstrates the inherit conflictual nature of humanity (Schmitt, 2017). Right from the beginning, death and pain were embedded into our closest relationships. Our most… Continue reading The Historical Atlas of Torture
The Battle of Takur Ghar /// 94
The Battle of Takur Ghar, also known as the Battle of Robert’s Ridge, was one of the bloodiest engagements in the history of the United States’ war in Afghanistan. Dozens of men died in the hills and mountains of the Shahi-Kot Valley. Scores more were wounded. The battle also featured one of the first documented… Continue reading The Battle of Takur Ghar /// 94
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