12-10-2014, 07:27 PM
(12-10-2014, 06:53 PM)crash Wrote: Isn't torture just another form of terrorism?
It depends on who's doing the defining and where they're sitting. For me, personally, torture isn't always terrorism.
For example, if I was a security commander and had solid proof that a specific person had planted fatal gases to be automatically released in 3 hours somewhere in San Francisco, I might authorize the infliction of physical pain onto that specific person in attempt to get the location IF all else had failed and I was running outta time. Historical evidence seems to indicate that my last-ditch violence/torture strategy likely wouldn't work, but if there was nothing else left and it meant certain death for others if the source couldn't be cracked, I might go there and I wouldn't consider myself a terrorist.
I wouldn't, however, authorize such techniques in anticipation of potential future acts or as payback for past acts -- I'd only do so in attempt to prevent certain immediate death of innocents.
Still, some people could argue that I was indeed a terrorist once I authorized the use of torture/violence under any circumstances, regardless of my motivation.
And, I acknowledge that some people/groups that I consider "terrorists" probably use torture in attempt to achieve goals which they feel benefit the lives of others. Those people and groups could argue that I was a hypocrite (though most of them, in my view, are just evil entities who use torture to gain power, political standing, or money).
Basically, I think the answer to your question is highly subjective.