If you caught the #2 al-Qeada terrorist, would you authorize the use of torture to get info?

Question

Suppose you're the POTUS. The army just caught ObL's second in command. Knowing he has information that can potentially save hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of lives, would you authorize the use of torture to extract that info? Why or why not?

Remember, torture does not have to be physical. Also, can we please dispense with the lib/con bashing and try to write intelligent answers.

Answer 1

"Caught WHO? I have no knowledge of any such capture" Since there is no doubt on the identity of the individual, or his past involvement in activities outside the parameters of the Geneva convention, and that he engages in operations against the forces of the United States and is not a uniformed member of any national armed force, he is subject to the same treatment given to a spy. Torture per Se, the use of pain and/or the threat thereof to extract information, is notoriously unreliable. It is far better to use subtler means, chemical and psychological, along with sleep deprivation and sleep-cycle/eating cycle disruption, total isolation from all external reference-stimuli, coupled with regular interrogation. You need not break the body to break the mind. These means DO, however, take some time. If I had reason to believe that time was of the essence, I would authorize whatever was needed to get the information. I would have no moral qualms about this decision.

Answer 2

It's funny hearing people like Hillary08 talk about something they know nothing about. If I capture 2 terrorist, take them up in a helicopter, and throw one of them out to get the other to talk, is that torture or just murder? I got the information that I needed and didn't torture one of them to get it. Both methods are legally and morally wrong. Which is worst?
Throughout history, it has been shown that torture generally failed to achieve its desired results. There are other methods that probably work better.

Answer 3

Politics is the subtle artwork of BACKSTABBING. they have now and constantly will, do what's of their very own ultimate hobbies on the fee of the american voters, that are in uncomplicated terms respected till...they forged their vote. voters are disposable in the event that they'd recruit new ones from the unlawful immigrant inhabitants. What those applicants are disturbingly blind to is that Mexico has in no way despatched that's ultimate or BRIGHTEST over our borders interior the lifeless of night. Obama, Clinton AND McCain are all on checklist as vote casting against making English our national language. base line-- 20 years later and the folk in skill are greater ANTI-American than ever. a thank you to kill united states of america /

Answer 4

I'll ask a liberal...Would tickling a terrorist foot with a feather be over the line? Why do you bother asking a question where you know the left will toss their bodies on the terrorist and act as a human shield?

Answer 5

No. I'd call Nancy Pelosi and ask her if she's like to take him out for dinner and for a few drinks later.
Maybe Harry Reid could come up with some tickets to a football game.

I'd ask John Murtha if he'd like to spend a weekend with him swapping war stories.
Then I'd ask Nancy, Harry and John what info they got!
If their answer was none, i';d tell them, OK! It's MY turn to run the f$$$$g war the way I see fit and you keep your turkey beak shaped noses out fi it.

Answer 6

Where do we draw the line? If we torture the terrorist, why not torture his wife and children to find out where he is? Why not torture kidnappers to find out where their victims are? Bank robbers to dicover where they hid the loot? And if we go that far, why not torture those who speak out in support of our enemies? Why not anyone who criticizes the government? Where do we stop?

We don't torture people because America stands for something bigger and better than that. Sure, it will cost us sometimes. So does freedm of speech and the rest of the bill of rights. I believe freedom is worth it. If we give up freedom to fight terrorism, what are we fighting for?

Answer 7

No, I would send him to San Fransicko to live, and within 6 months, he would be singing like a Canary!

Answer 8

Strapped tightly to a medical examination table,nice tray of sharp objects in plain view,real quiet,no one in sight,let him stew in his own fears for a few hours or days.
He'd talk.

Answer 9

i would use whatever it took to get the information that we are looking for. if we don't do it fast then he just might end up killing himself and we would never know the situation.

Answer 10

torture does not work and never has, it is only your fault that questioning has to lead to torture. because you exhausted your brain and all you know is how to hurt when frustrated.