Today’s question is: How does one equate the value of American lives to the “rights” of terrorists? Take a few minutes to take a short quiz. Carefully read each of the following scenarios. Note you answer before reading the next one. Answer truthfully, for only you will see your answers.
Major City
Terrorists have announced, with credible proof, that they have placed a nuclear device in a large US city. Police have captured one of the terrorists who knows the location of the atomic bomb, and how to disarm it. The atomic bomb is set to detonate in four hours.
Would you subject the terrorist to waterboarding or other more severe forms of coercion in order to save the city and hundreds of thousands of lives?
YES NO
A School
The school your children or grandchildren attend has been seized by terrorists. Several children have been killed, and the girls are being raped. Explosives have been planted throughout the building. Police caught the terrorists’ outside observer. He knows which terrorist has the detonator, information required by the SWAT team so they can kill the terrorist with the detonator before they begin their assault. Without this information, all the children will die.
Would you subject the terrorist to waterboarding or other more severe forms of coercion in order to save the children’s lives?
YES NO
Major Sports Event
A major football or baseball game is about to begin in a packed stadium. The FBI learns that a small terrorist cell has planted a small “suitcase” nuke in the stadium, set to detonate at half time, ninety minutes for now.
Would you subject the terrorist to waterboarding or other more severe forms of coercion in order to save thousands of lives?
YES NO
Spouse
Your spouse or life partner is part of a group being held by terrorists. The leader plans to kill everyone by detonating a bomb. FBI agents capture the leader, who knows where the timer, set to detonate the explosives, is located.
Would you subject the terrorist to waterboarding or other more severe forms of coercion in order to save your spouse?
YES NO
Now, substitute my spouse for yours, and answer the same question.
Would you subject the terrorist to waterboarding or other more severe forms of coercion in order to save my spouse?
YES NO
If you answered NO to any of the questions above, please determine the number of American lives you are willing to sacrifice before the “rights” of one terrorist can be violated:
_____ American lives
_____ One hundred American lives
_____ One thousand American lives
_____ Hundreds of thousand of American lives
_____ Millions of American lives
I hope this exercise helps you clarify your thinking about events that soon may occur.
http://www.newmediajournal.us/guest/l_boyland/2008/02092008.htm