Suppose we captured an enemy soldier who told interrogators that he knew where three American soldiers were being held and the three soldiers would be killed within 24 hours.

What level of torture, if any, would you find acceptable to enable the interrogators to find the soldiers?

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None.

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In this country, we don't need reasons to make things legal; we need reasons to make things illegal. - Startup

Although I abhor the wanton and useless abuse suffered by the iraqis in the Abu-Ghraib prison, but I can't say that I wouldn't approve of some torture to save the three soldiers.

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We would probably have to agree on what is "torture". The pictures I've seen from Abu-Ghraib strike me as close to torture, but not over the line. Without question, they are humiliating tactics and have no place in how any civilization should treat common criminals and prisoners of war.

However, I don't condone any physical abuse to secure information. We just have to work harder and find another way.

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In this country, we don't need reasons to make things legal; we need reasons to make things illegal. - Startup

What if there is no other way? Would it make a difference to you if the captives were 100 soldiers? What if they were 50 civilians? Would your opinion change if you personally knew, and of course liked, one of the soldiers? What if one of the soldiers was a family member?

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No torture should ever be used. If you start using torture, no matter how noble the purpose behind it, you open a Pandora´s Box. And as soon as the rabbit is out of the box, you will never get him back in again.

We also need to consider What should be considered torture, and what not.

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"Quincitilius Varus, give me back my legions!"
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I am talking about tying the guy to a chair and beating him until he gives up the information. I am not talking about gray areas.

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The answer is no.

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"Quincitilius Varus, give me back my legions!"
Emperor Augustus of Rome.

I find it hard to believe that you (and Fatboy) would not commit assault to prevent multiple murders.

Isn't there anyone reading this thread who would torture a prisoner to save the lives of others?

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If you hurt someone to help others, you are no better than those who would murder those you want to help.
Violence breeds violence, remember. You hurt me today,and i will hurt you tomorrow.
If you use violence to prevent violence, you acomplish nothing. The guy who you want to hurt to save the others will eventually hurt someone else later. And then what? You find someone else to torture? And then HE will turn violent, and take some more hostages! And what do you do then? Keep torturing some more? What will you have acomplished then? A pile of dead people? Weren´t you supposed to be saving lifes, instead of taking them?

You know what´s the problem with your train of thought? It´s that you value your countrymen more than the others. And that is wrong. ALL life should be preserved and fought for, not just american lives. You are forgeting that on the other side of the border there is someone that will value the lives of his countrymen over those of americans. You harm one of them, and they will harm one of you. The only way to break the cycle is to stop harming people.
Tell me, would it be worth it if you kill 10 guys to save your 10 countrymen?
In the end, 10 people would still be dead, so what did you acomplish with it?
I´ll tell you, nothing. Nothing at all. The next day some 10 more will take their place, and the cycle continues.

__________________
"Quincitilius Varus, give me back my legions!"
Emperor Augustus of Rome.