Australians oppose torture to fight terrorism

bunny · #1 10-19-2006, 03:27 AM

On the radio today I heard that a recent poll reported 60% of Australians opposed the use of torture in investigating/fighting terrorism - even if it was guaranteed to prevent a successful terrorist attack. Does anyone know any research or care to speculate what the percentage in the US would be?

daryn · #2 10-19-2006, 03:31 AM

i hope < 20%, but these days i'm not sure [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

hmkpoker · #3 10-19-2006, 03:34 AM

The reason I'm skeptical of torture is because I question its effectiveness. Necessarily endangering the lives of thousands to protect one is ridiculous.

bunny · #4 10-19-2006, 03:37 AM

I dont know what you mean by this - perhaps I was unclear. It was obviously just a radio snatch so I dont have any real details, but I dont think the poll meant that they would only torture terrorists.

In other words, I think the australian public were against using torture on the grounds that it would occasionally target people who turned out to be innocent, even if overall it would yield net benefits. Just wondered if the mood is different in the US.

hmkpoker · #5 10-19-2006, 03:50 AM

Well, I'm against everything the government does, so I don't think I'm an accurate representation.

PLOlover · #6 10-19-2006, 03:51 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Necessarily endangering the lives of thousands to protect one is ridiculous.

[/ QUOTE ]

There's a word for that: cowardice.

If you're gonna have your government engage in criminal activity then all bets are off and no one is safe anyway.

It looks like Americans are wicked and weak and we don't deserve freedom, and we're gonna get what we deserve.

boracay · #7 10-19-2006, 08:35 AM

actually the headline should be 'all civilised world is opposing torture'

Nielsio · #8 10-19-2006, 08:44 AM

[ QUOTE ]
The reason I'm skeptical of torture is because I question its effectiveness.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a very, very bad reason.

govman6767 · #9 10-19-2006, 08:45 AM

Look at the Continent this came from........

Ok now why would you even care.......

NeBlis · #10 10-19-2006, 12:32 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The reason I'm skeptical of torture is because I question its effectiveness.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a very, very bad reason.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry Nancy this is tho ONLY sensible reason. Only a complete idiot would refuse to torture a murderer to save innocent lives and make everyone safer. The question is not whether torture can be justified ( HINT : that's easy ) But whether or not it works.

NeBlis