Theos-Talk Archives (July 2002 Message tt00047)

Steve Stubbs wrote:
> Interestingly, Alan Dershowitz, noting that the most
> notorious terrorists are currently Muslims, advocates
> the legalization of torture. I was disappointed by
> that, since I have always admired him. He has not
> commented to my knowledge whether he would advocate
> torturing Jewish Defense League members or captured
> Mossad terrorists or whether it should apply to only
> Muslims. 

If someone is part of a plot to kill people who can be saved with that
person's cooperation, and the person refuses to cooperate, I could see
the use of torture. But it requires absolute certainty that the person
is refusing to talk rather than simply does not have the information.
And that would have to be determined on a case by case basis, with a
great deal of care, which I am not sure I trust any governmental agency
to exercise.

It is an interesting question. Somebody has the information that would
save the life of somebody that you love. You are doing the questioning.
How far would YOU go in getting the information?

Bart Lidofsky