I agree with you. OP seemed to imply that America was unique for punishing criminals. I'm not American and can't comment on America's justice system specifically, but punishment seems like a fairly non-controversial purpose for prisons all around the world. I'm all for rehabilitation but it has to be balanced with the punishment component. Thinking that punishment is "useless vengeance" is beyond naive.
I was not trying to imply that America was unique in punishing its criminals, but that America is retributive to an unusual degree. The "useless vengeance" comment was someone else.
