Is the act of Torture a greater or lesser evil than a Terrorist Act?

Question

As GWB leaves the smoking gun at the door of European countries who had already denied they were involved in the 'Extraordinary Rendition' episode, Is it ever acceptable a civilized nation like ours should ever involve itself in acts of torture?

Albeit in friendly European countries (who are now being indicted) and not on our soil.

Answer 1

I would say that torture by a government is the greater evil. My argument for this position is that whilst a terrorist act is unforgivable and would affect a great number of people and cause untold suffering it comes from people who have removed themselves from the rule of law.

In contrast torture by a government is a betrayal of the principles of justice and law. The state has a duty to protect its people, not only from terrorists but from itself. Once it become justifiable to torture terrorist suspects, what is stop it being used on organized criminals, or even people who question the status quo?

The act of torture is also a descent to immoral measures. If we can't trust the government to uphold human rights then we have been betrayed.

Answer 2

I don't think we should assume that torture was used from what GWB said that is an assumption because I watched his entire speech (until the media interrupted the broadcast to state the obvious -- a re-cap of his major points, ANNOYING HABIT THEY HAVE!).

There are many ways to get people to talk without torturing them.

As to your question: equal but Machiavellians lives on!

Please e-mail me with more information about how European countries have been affected by GWB's speech. Who is being indicted and why? If what you wrote is true, it is not cool and does nothing toward maintaining the few allies we have. What's with the "outing" of CIA agents, countries, etc? Is it contagious?

Does no one think about what happens when the world stops trusting anyone? That is the oldest trick in the book: United we stand, divided we fall! The quickest way to divide a group is to create distrust......look at Genesis and the serpent's question to Eve...... "Did God say.....?" The serpent was creating doubt, mistrust............

Also, blaming others is as old as Genesis too -- it's not my fault it's so-and-so's fault. Also detrimental is naming accomplices in an attempt to escape discipline.....well I wasn't the only one doing it -- like that matters.

Good question, but I don't think GWB admitted to torture....I'm pretty sure that's what the whole Geneva Convention was about (don't know that for sure as it has been a long time since I studied it). I'm just disturbed that it appears that we are just now starting to comply with the rules of the Geneva Convention -- isn't that what happened or was I imagining that or was that just media propiganda -- it's so hard to tell the difference between news and opinion these days! When did THAT line get so smeared?

Answer 3

The acts of torture are a far greater threat, because it affects the entire country and the civilized world. By condoning and using torture the particular country negates the values it is based on. A terrorist attack may kill people, but the slide down the evolutionary slope to the dark ages sets teh country back.

Answer 4

An act of torture is the lesser evil in that, there is a purpose in it. It is a means of tracking down terrorists who have shown they have absolutely no compulsion about taking innocent lives. Picture a scenario where you are a parent and your three children are kidnapped and are going to be killed. You manage to catch one of his accomplices and the decision is left to you. Would you refuse to condone torture being used because it is evil or would you consider the saving of three innocent lives justified it? You must remember that the thousands of lives lost in the 9/11 attack were all innocent, they were not selected for their race, their colour or their religion, they were selected because they were innocent. Many people talk about human rights where extra-ordinary rendition and torture is concerned but what respect did they have for the human rights of their victims.

Answer 5

Suppose you uncover a terrorist plot that could kill hundreds of innocent people. You arrest some of those involved but others are still at large and mean to carry out the threat. The ones you are holding refuse to talk. Would you 'torture' them to find out the details and avert a disaster? Regrettable torture has always been used and will always be used. War is dirty and nasty and those playing by the rules do not win.

Answer 6

it is not act of God. it is completely human beings' insanity. All areas of the earth are actually not very solid. there are various holes and caves and gentle components that could't face as much as the severe vibrations led to on the exterior of the earth. the non-end wars, fairly bomb blasting, is the reason for the organic failures. Wars and nuclear checks must be abandoned to shop the earth. Father has given an attractive solid living house to his little little ones to stay in. yet whilst they try one yet another many times demolishing the partitions and pillars who's to blame?

Answer 7

It depends on the degree of torture and number of people involved. If you torture a person, you leave a long lasting mark on that person. Terrorist act simply kill that person with little or short lasting pain.

I think torture is a bigger crime, realizing how long the person has to suffer. It might be days, years, or a lifetime.

Answer 8

Torture is obhorrent; however, let's not equate what the West does to gather information with a young mindwashed religious fanatic from strapping on a bomb or taking over a plane to commit mass murder by suicide. Two totally different issues.

Answer 9

Now we finally got the explanation for their lousy intelligence!

Of course it's unacceptable, especially when at the same time the country perpetrating it, wherever it might be actually carried out, is waging war in the name of democracy and freedom.
Really, really makes you puke!

As far as I'm concerned I'd rather be killed unexpectedly by a terrorist attack than be marked for live by torture.

Answer 10

Lesser