http://bit.ly/NNYoj
The FBI is going to announce tonight that they have arrested 4 men who they believe were attempting to bomb a Jewish temple in the Bronx.
First Thought: Thank goodness.
Second Thought: Isn't this one of the reasons why we're supposed to need torture? If we don't need torture to disrupt plots, what do we need it for?
Well, there are other ways to disrupt the terrorists (including striking at the source, such as the actions against Saddam Hussein in Iraq and also against the Taliban/Al Qaeda regime in Afghanistan earlier in the decade)
ReplyDeleteI don't think we need torture period.
ReplyDeleteBut then I'd torture the heck out of anyone who had taken my kid and would not tell me where they had him or anyone who harmed a child of mine if I could get my hands on them.
Perhaps I am not objective.
None of us are, Ananda.
ReplyDeleteThat question has always struck me as unfair, and it is part of the reason why Jack Bauer is so popular a figure. "Wouldn't you want them to torture The Bad Guy if it were your kid/your mom/your spouse in danger?" "Wouldn't you want the killer of your kid/mom/spouse executed?"
Of course I would-any feeling being would want no stone unturned if a member of their family was in danger.
That's why we don't let family members make these decisions. The people involved in decisions like that need to be detached, so they can make the decision that's best for everybody.
And DMarks-come on, now. Al Queda attacked us on 9/11. Al Queda was not in Iraq before we invaded. Disrupting the safe harbors of terrorists is clearly a vital tactic. Invading Iraq had nothing to do with disrupting Al Queda, because they were not there.