Poll: Torture for Terrorists?

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Originally posted by: Vic
Of course the answer is NO.
I've argued this before and I'm not going to bother to repeat an obvious argument again. In short, the torture of suspected criminals, even "terrorists," is against our laws and against the principal foundations upon which our country was built. I won't even go into the moral objections... if some people here don't understand them, then I don't think that they're worthy of holding an opinion on this matter. Then throw in the fact that physical torture is a nearly worthless and pointless form of interrogation... jeez, the mob rule in this country has gone too far. :disgust:
Click to expand...

You don't think that we've been pushed "too far" already? :Q What are you waiting for? Your church to be suicide bombed while you're in there in your Sunday best with your wife and infant son? Oh....those two didn't survive the bombing...and you're a quadrapalegic now.

Need more convincing? I can talk all night.
 
D

davee

Banned
Aug 20, 2002
273
0
0
Originally posted by: MichaelD
"When you torture, the terrorists have won?" I don't think so.

All humans have a breaking point. I don't care what training or conditioning you have endured; we ALL have a breaking point. Enough physical and mental pain and you will talk like a parrot on methamphetamine.

Picture this: You are an American Pilot. An American Tank Gunner. An American Spy. An American PASTOR, caught behind enemy lines. What do you think they are going to do to you? Give you hot cocoa, let you call home and give you a hot meal?

You'd be LUCKY if they blew your brains out with an AK47 on the spot. :( You might as well shoot yourself before being taken captive b/c in about a week, you'll be praying to whatever God you believe in (or will have found God) for your death to finally come.

I say light the fvckers on fire. On public television and broadcast it worldwide. Send the message that we are not messing around anymore. Note the "anymore." Our pansy-ass attitude is the reason why we got sucker punched on 9-11.
Click to expand...
duh
 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Originally posted by: davee
Originally posted by: MichaelD
"When you torture, the terrorists have won?" I don't think so.

All humans have a breaking point. I don't care what training or conditioning you have endured; we ALL have a breaking point. Enough physical and mental pain and you will talk like a parrot on methamphetamine.

Picture this: You are an American Pilot. An American Tank Gunner. An American Spy. An American PASTOR, caught behind enemy lines. What do you think they are going to do to you? Give you hot cocoa, let you call home and give you a hot meal?

You'd be LUCKY if they blew your brains out with an AK47 on the spot. :( You might as well shoot yourself before being taken captive b/c in about a week, you'll be praying to whatever God you believe in (or will have found God) for your death to finally come.

I say light the fvckers on fire. On public television and broadcast it worldwide. Send the message that we are not messing around anymore. Note the "anymore." Our pansy-ass attitude is the reason why we got sucker punched on 9-11.
Click to expand...
duh
Click to expand...


OUTSTANDING retort, Davee. Simply outstanding. Do you tie your own shoes, or does Mom still do that for you in addition to wiping your butt and making your Special Davee-Babee Lunchee for you to take to school?
 
StageLeft

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
No. A country shouldn't undermine its own ideals in an attempt to preserve them.

That said I wouldn't cry if this guy recently caught was given a slap or 5.
 
Vic

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: MichaelD
You don't think that we've been pushed "too far" already? :Q What are you waiting for? Your church to be suicide bombed while you're in there in your Sunday best with your wife and infant son? Oh....those two didn't survive the bombing...and you're a quadrapalegic now.

Need more convincing? I can talk all night.
Click to expand...
Go ahead and talk (post) all night.
1. I refuse to live in or be persuaded by fear. This is far too serious an issue for emotional arguments.
2. What is a "terrorist" but an international criminal? How soon, once given the ability to torture terrorists, would our government begin torturing domestic criminals? How soon after that would the word "terrorist" be expanded to include domestic political prisoners? how about anyone who opposed the current administration? or a local political leader? This is far too slippery a slope for me.
3. And finally, I would rather my "wife and infant son" die and I be left a quad for life and live in a moral, free country that abides by its own laws than live in a country which tortures suspected criminals.

As for these laws I refer to, trying reading the 5th and 8th Amendments again. They are not havens for criminals, they are protection for the people.
 
A

aswedc

Diamond Member
Oct 25, 2000
3,543
0
76
This is already happening. Notice how the government will not state what methods they use to get information from the terrorists other than there is no physical tourture, and how they will not comment on other friendly countries helping us out with their less restrictive interrogation policies. I'm sure they are subject to every sort of psychological torture possible and if that doesn't work we ship them off somewhere that will do whatever it takes to get the information.
 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Originally posted by: Skoorb
No. A country shouldn't undermine its own ideals in an attempt to preserve them.

That said I wouldn't cry if this guy recently caught was given a slap or 5.
Click to expand...

A slap? With what implement of destruction? Do i get to choose? Pickaxe? Flat-head shovel? Rabid porcupine?
 
J

Jmman

Diamond Member
Dec 17, 1999
5,302
0
76
Well, imho, you treat someone like they treat you. Siince Daniel Pearl had a nice room with a view, legal counsel, three square meals a day, satellite tv.....ooops, sorry, I forgot, he was beaten, had his head cut off, and was buried in a ditch......:| That is what we should do to this piece of crap, but only after he has sung many lovely songs for us.........:disgust:
 
Vic

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: Skoorb
No. A country shouldn't undermine its own ideals in an attempt to preserve them.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Nice post, Skoorb :)
 
T

Tab

Lifer
Sep 15, 2002
12,145
0
76
As for the recent mohammed terrorist. If he has information on a new terrorist attack, we should lock him up with bubba.
 
E

etech

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,597
0
0
We should not and cannot allow ourselves to sink to the level of the terrorists that are fighting us.

 
Vic

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: StattlichPassat
Why not? :disgust:
Click to expand...
Why do we bother to have courts of law?
rolleye.gif
 
A

Atlantean

Diamond Member
May 2, 2001
5,296
1
0
No for torture, it doesn't really get any real info, I would rather lie so they would stop than continue being tortured.
 
E

everman

Lifer
Nov 5, 2002
11,288
1
0
What exactly constitutes torture? With this Shake Mohammad (mastermind guy) we need to hold on to him until we know everything he knows. If he could do 9-11 all over again right now, he would, that is who we're dealing with. How to get that information?
 
MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: MichaelD
You don't think that we've been pushed "too far" already? :Q What are you waiting for? Your church to be suicide bombed while you're in there in your Sunday best with your wife and infant son? Oh....those two didn't survive the bombing...and you're a quadrapalegic now.

Need more convincing? I can talk all night.
Click to expand...
Go ahead and talk (post) all night.
1. I refuse to live in or be persuaded by fear. This is far too serious an issue for emotional arguments.
2. What is a "terrorist" but an international criminal? How soon, once given the ability to torture terrorists, would our government begin torturing domestic criminals? How soon after than would the word "terrorist" be expanded to include domestic political prisoners?
3. And finally, I would rather my "wife and infant son" die and I be left a quad for life and live in a moral, free country that abides by its own laws than live in a country which tortures suspected criminals.

As for these laws I refer to, trying reading the 5th and 8th Amendments again. They are not havens for criminals, they are protection for the people.
Click to expand...


I understand and respect your thoughts and opinions. :) I used to be much like you are. I was, and continue to be, affected by 9-11 in quite a few ways.

The FREEDOMS that our country is based on are the same freedoms that enabled these SOBs to enter our country, learn our culture, habits and weaknesses and exploit them with deadly results.

We must change with the times in order to protect ourselves. These fleas KNOW that we're not as cruel as they are. They KNOW we won't bomb churches, schools and old folks' homes. Are those not the very places they hide it? Where they hide their troops and weapons? We need to think differently..JUST TEMPORARILY...crush them entirely and once again we can be on top where we should be.
 
T

tweakmm

Lifer
May 28, 2001
18,436
4
0
Where is the option for "the thumbscrews have probably been out in Guantanamo bay for a while"
 
D

davee

Banned
Aug 20, 2002
273
0
0
Originally posted by: MichaelD
Originally posted by: davee
Originally posted by: MichaelD
"When you torture, the terrorists have won?" I don't think so.

All humans have a breaking point. I don't care what training or conditioning you have endured; we ALL have a breaking point. Enough physical and mental pain and you will talk like a parrot on methamphetamine.

Picture this: You are an American Pilot. An American Tank Gunner. An American Spy. An American PASTOR, caught behind enemy lines. What do you think they are going to do to you? Give you hot cocoa, let you call home and give you a hot meal?

You'd be LUCKY if they blew your brains out with an AK47 on the spot. :( You might as well shoot yourself before being taken captive b/c in about a week, you'll be praying to whatever God you believe in (or will have found God) for your death to finally come.

I say light the fvckers on fire. On public television and broadcast it worldwide. Send the message that we are not messing around anymore. Note the "anymore." Our pansy-ass attitude is the reason why we got sucker punched on 9-11.
Click to expand...
duh
Click to expand...


OUTSTANDING retort, Davee. Simply outstanding. Do you tie your own shoes, or does Mom still do that for you in addition to wiping your butt and making your Special Davee-Babee Lunchee for you to take to school?
Click to expand...
nice one
 
O

OulOat

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2002
5,769
0
0
Hey, those damn iraqis electro-shocked Santa's balls. I say give them no mercy.
 
E

etech

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,597
0
0
Originally posted by: tweakmm
Where is the option for "the thumbscrews have probably been out in Guantanamo bay for a while"
Click to expand...

Where's the award for most stupid post?

 
T

tweakmm

Lifer
May 28, 2001
18,436
4
0
Originally posted by: etech
Originally posted by: tweakmm
Where is the option for "the thumbscrews have probably been out in Guantanamo bay for a while"
Click to expand...
Where's the award for most stupid post?
Click to expand...
Oooh, good one ace!

Considering that this is the US Government we are talking about, I fail to see how it is such a big leap of logic to assume that we are using torture as a method of interogation. Maybe I'm just a cynic...

 
E

etech

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,597
0
0
Yes, it's the US government we are talking about.

It's not Egypt or Saudia Arabia or Iraq etc. It's the US. Now if you have proof that this administration practices and condones torture then present it.

Otherwise my award stands.
 
H

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
35,059
73
91
NO! Hating those who have killed, or would kill, us is understandable, but we cannot win any war against a perceived evil by becoming the evil we seek to defeat. If we aren't fighting to defend our principles, we have no reason to fight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom