As Long As You Live This Will Never Happen (short rant)

[ThomWV]

You will never see a day when this happens:

We will have captured a terrorist.
The terrorist knows the location of a weapon.
The weapon is of the most horrible kind.
The weapon is hidden a very important and large city.
The weapon will kill millions if it goes off.
The weapon is on a timer with only hours or days left to go.
If the terrorist talks we can disarm the weapon.

If anyone begins to make a point using any part of that event you need to stop them dead in their tracks. Just say "Stop! That's absurd, that will never happen." It is patently absurd to accept nonsense like the terrorist and the weapon argument but you see it all the time. Its time to say no to this bullshit.

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. People watch too many Bruce Willis movies. n/t

[dkofos]

2. And 24

[Poppyseedman]

3. It's already happened.

several times.

The CIA will confirm, but can't divulge the details because it will cause a massive panic.

Just ask them.

:sarcasm:

[aikoaiko]

4. You're probaby right, but I would have said the same thing about...

...19 immigrants with box cutters, some buildings and a few thousand dead people before 9/11.

[ThomWV]

6. So, is that adequate basis upon which to torture?

That is the question I pose to you then. Is the existence of 19 immigrants with box cutters, the availability of large buildings housing thousands of people during the workday, and some date certain justification for use of torture? Our current President seems to think so.

[aikoaiko]

8. ahhh torture, your original post never said anything about torture

But since you asked...my answer is I don't know.

On one hand I find torture morally repulsive in the abstract sense and when its applied to innocent people, but, on the other hnad, if torture is useful when you have an actual terrorist with time urgent information then the utililarian ethicist kicks in. Of course, using torture "righteously" to save lives in the short term could have even worse consequences down the rode.

[IDemo]

5. But we need opportunities to use our new sulfuric torture standards!

[TahitiNut]

7. Even if it does ...

... what sane person would allow a law to get in the way of whatever measures were needed to get such information? Would you? Would I? Nope.

And that's the gamble. Anyone so absolutely certain that only torture would 'save' the lives of thousands if not millions can damned well put their certitude on the line and risk their own arrogant ass. If they're right, no sane and responsible jury would ever convict them. If they're wrong, not only does it prove no change in the law is well-advised but their ass can sit in prison where it belongs.

But these people NEVER put their own butts on the line! Never! They want complete license to torture, exploit, kill, imprison, and plunder without proof, without check, without risk to themselves of any kind.

That's cowardice and psychopathology ... not patriotism.