Torture

Here's one way to look at this issue:

No one is suggesting that we should ever torture anyone unless we thought we might be able to stop some massive loss of life. A nuclear, chemical or biological attack, for instance. The ticking time-bomb scenario. If waterboarding in these circumstances has been criminalized, what options do we have? Ask nicely and hope for the truth from someone who would slit your throat if he could? From someone who has been raised from day one to hate you?

From where you are right now, envision in your mind all the kids, parents, pets, trees and buildings for miles around being incinerated by a nuclear bomb. What about a chemical or biological attack? Can you imagine what it would be like with people dying everywhere, in horrible pain, coughing up blood? It's hard to even think about, but in this day and age it's possible. And there are many people who would consider it an honor and a duty to to their God to accomplish it. If we have any chance at all of preventing an attack like this, shouldn't we do it? Shouldn't we at least try?

There is such a huge difference between torturing as punishment, or to intimidate people in order to keep them in line, or for some sadistic pleasure, and doing it as a last resort to save a lot of lives. Saddam Hussein and others did unspeakable things to people for fun and intimidation and control. This is not what we are talking about here, or anywhere in America.

But if one of the above nightmare scenarios is happening, the American people will understand if we have to lean hard into someone in order to stop it. If you are attacked by a rabid dog and manage to kill it before it kills you, it doesn't mean that you sanction and enjoy killing dogs. It's self-preservation.

The President and leading members of both houses of Congress, from both parties, should have to sign off on any "harsh treatment". It would be exceedingly rare.

To those who will say that this is not who we are, we agree. It's not. But it would be rare, and never for sport. And it can certainly be argued that it is not morally superior to let a few hundred thousand people die a terrible death without trying to stop it.

In this rough and tumble world, where lunatics shout “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest) while they carve the heads off a live human beings, we may have to do things we wouldn't have ever considered before in order to survive. This site strongly advocates ridding the planet of the people who would put us in such an odious position as soon as humanly possible.

This site is leery of criminalizing torture used as the ultimate last resort. The President of the United States, or those acting at his direction, should not be liable for prosecution for trying to save the lives of American citizens.

The members will have plenty to say about this perspective.