Should We Torture?

I agree with Andrew Sullivan who was against torture. Personally, it’s a moral issue with me but his argument included numerous positions that I’d never even considered. It is a complicated issue and more than a simple answer is required. When Sullivan stated that “torture is the polar opposite of freedom” he was condensing “a large part of the idea that is America”. It’s maintaining our position on the ‘higher’ ground; something Sullivan notes has worked before in World War II. Also, he addresses the fact that once any type or degree of torture is allowed it has the tendency to spread. Charles Krauthammer claims it is our “moral duty” to collect vital information from terrorists but as Sullivan mentions, the information is usually inaccurate when extracted by torture. Torture can even have the opposite reaction to the desired effect; prisoners might go on hunger strikes or give false information to stop the immediate torture. Torture isn’t “civilized” as Krauthammer claims our country is; it can only be a “weapon-to use against us”.