This is why I'm strongly opposed to torture in extracting information

[Kevin]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
It goes against everything America was founded for.

Sure, it might save lives. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. But there are a lot of things that we could do in America to save lives that completely infringe upon our liberties that the country's founding was based upon. We could ban guns. We could give the death penalty to accused murderers without a trial. In fact, we could lock up anybody who so much as hits someone just IN CASE they kill anyone, because they have violent tendencies. But is that fair? No. Is it American? Definitely not.

I love it when people consider themselves oh so patriotic, yet their vision of America goes completely against what this country was founded to be. That's not patriotism.

It may not be.

I'd rather be alive than patriotic. That's just me though. If there's a happy medium between the two possible extremes I'm sure they'd be going after it full steam.

If 9-11 could have been prevented through these methods would you have disapproved?

[madmax]

Originally posted by CanadianTeke
This is a tired and useless aregument -- in order for someone to pass from Canada into the United States they must pass through AMERICAN customs. Whether they came through Canada or not US officials still had to allow them into the US.

Not true. The US Canadian border is not exactly the Berlin Wall or the Great Wall of China. There are thousands of miles of open border where people can just walk over. I believe there are even unguarded roads where people can just drive over.

[madmax]

Originally posted by ktsnake
It may not be.

I'd rather be alive than patriotic. That's just me though. If there's a happy medium between the two possible extremes I'm sure they'd be going after it full steam.

If 9-11 could have been prevented through these methods would you have disapproved?

9-11 wouldn't have been prevented. If it could have been prevented then how come acts of terrorism still exist?

[swissmiss04]

Originally posted by ktsnake
This Maher Arer fella.. anyone here know for sure he's not a terrorist? Didn't think so. It's not so far fetched for me to argue that he's actually a member of Al Quaida arguing against this method of interrogation because in many cases, it works!

If the torture of one terrorist saves lives, then in my mind, it's worth it.

If torturing terrorists for information could have prevented 9-11 I'd have certainly supported it. I think what we're all forgetting is that this is a war. If you don't go after the enemy, kill him, do what is necessary, he will kill you.

Well, then I'll get the INS on the phone and tell 'em I got a volunteer for questioning and optional (but likely) torture. It saves lives, right? Who knows what kind of sketchy business you're involved in... You could be a neo-Nazi! You're a white male, and most neo-Nazis are white males. Makes sense to me.

And what the hell ever happened to "innocent until proven guilty?"