Is persuasion really more effective than torture or is that a lie?

Torture is certainly bad, but what is a more effective method of gaining information from the enemy.
I know I am going to speak more if some one is cutting off my arm, than I would if they are fixing me up a cup of cool aid.

surely if someone is cutting your arm off, you'll talk more.
and you'll say whatever will get them to stop.
doesn't make any difference if it's true or not.

the real problem is that, our publicized torture has been the best recruiting tool that al qaeda could ever ask for.
and we can never take it back.
it will take decades for the US to recover the reputation it had just 8 years ago.

i'll be long gone, and you'll be old.
for many years, there will be people looking to attack the US and all it's allies.
just because we were stupid, or criminal.

you can forgive someone for making a mistake.
the school yard bully never gets forgiven for picking on, and beating, someone who cannot defend himself.
when you see that person years later, you remember.
it just never goes away.

and, it would be good to keep in mind that, unlike Americans, many folks around the world have a memory, and hold grudges.
i'm sorry for all the folks who are young.
it's not a good legacy that we're leaving them.

They both are effective ways of getting the info you need. Some capturers will treat you very, VERY well. They will let you out of your cell for a break, offer you a smoke, give you food, etc. They will want you to actually become so depended upon them that they will act like your buddy to "save" you from torture if you reveal certain info.

Then again, torture is endless pain - something few people in this world can battle.