Do you think that the US should be allowed to torture terrorist?

Yes.

Yes.

I agree!

yep i honestly do!! they mess with us we kick theur ass!!!!

I that we should too!!!! I don't think that I would really want to hear about it though.

I say no. It is something that is condoned by the US (and most other countries) so why get on the same level as the terrorists you are trying to fight? How can you expect others to stop using terror/ torture if you use it yourself?

i dont think so.

No. Quite frankly, it's beaneath us.

How can you expect others to stop using terror/ torture if you use it yourself?


Oh wouldn't it be nice if the terrorists played fair...

Oh wouldn't it be nice if the terrorists played fair...
very well said Becca
I think we should because we all know that our POWs are tortured and such and always have been always will be.
Maybe when we start playing by their rules they will realize we don't mess around
JMO

To an extent yes.

i think that if terrorists are allowed to parade our innocent U.S. citizens on their television networks, torture them on tape and then chop their heads off all for training videos then hell yes. i also agree that to an extent. i think we should be able to "rough 'em up" a bit to get information needed from them

I say no, because we are getting down to the terrorist's level. Sure, they don't care and I don't expect them to see us not torturing and want to change their ways. But torturing them only gives them even more fuel to be angry with us. We have to live by our policies and morals, because if we don't we're not much better than them. Eye for an eye feels good, but doesn't work in policy.

So you're saying that if there's an imminent attack on the United States, and we have someone in custody that can tell us everything, we shouldn't rip his toenails out or castrate him with a razor blade if it would make him talk? Are American lives worth it to you?? Have you not SEEN what they do to US? Seriously - there's no such thing as being the bigger person when it comes to these extremists. They don't give a shit about us, they'd just as soon kill us themselves. Like it or not, torture could save lives - and that makes it worth it to me.

On a side note, I think it's STUPID that our congress is even publicly fighting over this. Nothing like telling a terrorist "Oh don't worry, we won't torture you if you don't talk..."

I say do what it takes to save our own asses. Even if that means fighting fire with fire. These are not civilized people. You can't just be a better person and expect to win the war.

ETA: There's not anything we can possibly do to make these people hate us more than they already do.

amen

Because I don't believe torture actually does anything? Because I don't believe that someone who is willing to blow themselves up for their cause responds to torture? Because I don't believe people don't just lie when being tortured? Because I think that if we, as a country, continue to tout how much better we are then them, we have to act like it. It's not just the terrorists we are fighting, but the rest of the world. We lose the respect of people who should be in the fight with us. Alienating the rest of the world is not going to help us win the war either.
And you're fooling yourself if you think there isn't more we could do to anger them. There ARE more people in this world who could join their cause, you know.
Believe me, my gut instinct is to torture them, but that isn't living in a world with consequences.

I stand by what I said. Call me just another selfish American with no concern for the rest of the world...but I strongly believe that saving American lives...my mother, my child, my friends and loved ones...from terror attacks is far more important than what the rest of the world thinks of me. Lives aren't worth diplomacy.

Oh wouldn't it be nice if the terrorists played fair...

EXACTLY! We don't live in a fair world and we never will, no matter how hard we try to be "above" them. That will never solve anything b/c they never will play fair. They know too that they will get away in so many terms with that shit.

I say torture them!

Lives aren't worth diplomacy.

I am wondering how the families of those 4 people being held (as we speak, and are due to be executed on Saturday...one American) would say about using a little damn diplomacy. I'm sure they wish for nothing more than our country to "work" with these sicko's (breaking EVERY rule that we believe in) to possibly save their loved ones. Then why don't we?....because we are a nation that sticks to its principals and we are a better country for it. Do Americans pay the ultimate price for that.......YES, ALL the time! If we are not willing to do everything we can and "break our rules" to save an American life by "working" with a terrorist, how can we turn around and torture them to save other Americans. It would be like saying some lives are more important than others, that breaking our policies was ok, because torture was somehow more acceptable:oogle

It stoops to their level and goes against who we are as a nation.

Well Aundi, you have taken my quote entirely out of context. But that's not entirely surprising.

ETA: Regardless of whether or not we "stoop to their level", they will not stop kidnapping, executing, plotting to destroy our country, or killing Americans.

For the ones that aren't agreeable, definately. Some will be compliant without us even trying much, but for those that don't cooperate, absolutely.

I'm not sure how you mean that I took you out of context, I simply quoted you because I was going to show an opposite side, one where diplomacy WOULD and could actually save lives........not cost lives.

I was simply trying to show that the USA is NOT always all about diplomacy (especially when it comes to terrorists) and yes Americans die for it just the same.

I'm not sure how you mean that I took you out of context, I simply quoted you because I was going to show an opposite side, one where diplomacy WOULD and could actually save lives........not cost lives.




I misunderstood what you were saying. I apologize.

I say no. It is something that is condoned by the US (and most other countries) so why get on the same level as the terrorists you are trying to fight? How can you expect others to stop using terror/ torture if you use it yourself?

I agree.....

How can you expect others to stop using terror/ torture if you use it yourself?

I highly doubt anyone expects the terrorists to stop using torture. And I know noone expects them to stop using terror/being terrorists. I'm not advocating torture against any old average joe that crosses Americas path. I strongly believe that certain cases warrant torture...and those cases would be involving terrorists.

Right about now I feel like I'm the only one willing to debate this side of this argument. I've made my point, and I'm stepping off the soapbox. :) I haven't been this much a part of a debate since back in the day...I've missed it :D

I am right there with you Becca but you know I always word things to where I offend somebody :(

It's ok Breezy, I'm sure I do too... :lmao

I wouldn't mind torturing the crap out of Bin Laden and a few others :mrgreen