Secret CIA detention centre

I have no idea what I would do. But I thought we were talking about it objectively, not emotionally. IF I freaked out in such a case, I guess I would regret it afterwards cause, after all, my reactions would not bring back my beloved ones or make undone what happened.

I can honestly say, that if I managed to get my hands on someone who had hurt my family in the ways described, I wouldn't feel the least bit bad if I lost control. I'd like to think I'd have it in me to be quick about it, maybe even merciful. Probably not though.

That's just from a human standpoint though. From a legal standpoint, we need laws to prevent such actions from happening. The innocent need to be protected, and the guilty need to be punished. Punished in such a way that others who would contemplate the same actions would see and be warned not to pursue that course. Punishment serves two purposes. To show that the moral code of conduct (in this case, don't kill your neighbor without reason, that sort of thing) remains in place, and to deter similar actions in the future. So any punishment that is administered has to be harsh enough to deter future crimes, yet moderate enough to show that we aren't barbarians. Where that line is, I'm probably not smart enough to figure out.

In this case, I think it's the chicken. We've stirred up a hornet's nest of hate in the middle east by meddling in their affairs, throwing rocks at the nest, if you will, and now we're banging on the hornets nest because they stung us once, and we're wondering why we're getting stung a lot more. The hornets are always going to be there, it's not like we can nuke the mid east. But we should quit throwing rocks at the nest, and then punish those who would do us harm even after we quit aggravating them.

Adrian

EDIT:Woohooo! 2000 posts!

I think I agree with that. It works both ways, they probably feel the same way about you that you do them.

With that I don't agree. I don't want blood in my hands, whoever it may belong to.

I don't think he means you should put them on your personal electric chair by your own hands...

I hope so! Imagine how expensive one of those chairs must be :P

But even if it was done by the government on my behalf in a way, I'd feel as dirty as if I'd done it with my own hands and I don't think I could stand that.

Anyone here who says if they were int he position where they had one of the al qaeda top brass in their captivity and wouldn't beat the living shit out of them is either a saint or lying.

I tend to go with the latter cos i know i would make them suffer & doubt very few int he same position wouldn't either.

... or a coward - I just couldn't stand it, that's why I wouldn't do it. I couldn't bear the burden of having take someone's life.

Plus, I don't really believe in revenge.

Totaly agree with you Jim

It truly baffles me at how hypocritical some people can be. If they torture and behead "our" people, you are all shouting at how inhumane they are, but it is okay to torture POW and others, becuase our cause is just?? That is so wrong!! Yes, they should be punished but only because they do it doesn't mean we should.. I thought we were civilised, at least that is what we say we are.

And if we are going to be throwing in Biblical quotes like Eye for an eye.. think of this... "You reap what you sow...."

It's not about blood, it's about punishment according to law. Not to forget trial either. If such person was somehow found not guilty, I can honestly say I wouldn't know how to relate to that. I believe in fair judgement system, and that deeds are to be punished according to law. Personally, I think over here punishment doesn't fit the crime, in most cases "life" means something like 12 years.

And to Jim...
Meeting someone in person as single person not representing the authority, I wouldn't have problem beating up someone who's coming at me. I still wouldn't do such just because I could, but to protect myself. When u represent the authority, u should go by the book, no matter what is the case. When authorities start bending laws in cases like discussed here, there's nothing we can trust.