Public radio from Western Michigan University 102.1 NPR News | 89.9 Classical WMUK
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Interviews with news makers and discussion of topics important to Southwest Michigan. Subscribe to the podcast through Apple itunes and Google. Segments of interview are heard in WestSouthwest Brief during Morning Edition and All Things Considered

WestSouthwest: How we view torture in a "post 9/11" world

The Associated Press

David Forsythe studies international human rights and American foreign policy. The University of Nebraska Professor Emeritus of Political Science spoke this week at Kalamazoo College. 

While in town, he also spoke with WMUK's Gordon Evans. Forsythe says United States history is filled with tension over the balance between security and liberty. He says the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 shifted the debate in the U.S. Forsythe says at that point the  Bush administration decided it had to "go to the dark side," a quote attributed to former Vice President Dick Cheney. 

davidforsythe110513-web.mp3
Extended interview with David Forsythe

In his book, The Politics of Prisoner AbuseForsythe says most nations don't live up to their stated ideals in the area of human rights. But he says the United States sets a standard for the rest of the world. 

Forsythe was in Kalamazoo on Tuesday to deliver the annual Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Lecture at Kalamazoo College. 

Gordon Evans became WMUK's Content Director in 2019 after more than 20 years as an anchor, host and reporter. A 1990 graduate of Michigan State, he began work at WMUK in 1996.
Related Content