Ethical Dilemma: Waterboarding in “Zero Dark Thirty”
There are situations where information is needed and the person who has that information is not willing to share. In certain situations, extreme measures need to be taken to obtain that information. The movie “Zero Dark Thirty” depicts the story of CIA analysts looking to gather information on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden. In the effort to gain information from Al Qaeda operatives, the interrogation method of waterboarding was used. It covers much of the interrogation of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM). Information gathered from KSM was critical in identifying that Osama bin Laden was at the Abbottabad compound. In the interest of national security and the fight for our country and safety of our people, ethics are sometimes not the guiding force behind decisions made, the mission is, and depending on the mission interrogation methods like waterboarding can be beneficial.
When individuals sign up to volunteer for service, whether it be with a government agency, like the CIA, or the military, they are accepting and acknowledging the fact that they will be following the orders of those in positions above them. The …show more content…
In the situation with Al Qaeda and its members, they are a terrorist organization, therefore, they would not fall into the category of a lawful combatant. “Terrorists, by contrast, are unlawful combatants. They do not wear uniforms or distinctive insignia, or follow a clear chain of command. Not only do they hide among innocent civilians, their primary means of attacking us is to target innocent men, women and children for death. Because they violate the laws of war, they do not receive the privileges that a lawful combatant receives as a POW under Geneva” (Thiessen, M.
There are situations where information is needed and the person who has that information is not willing to share. In certain situations, extreme measures need to be taken to obtain that information. The movie “Zero Dark Thirty” depicts the story of CIA analysts looking to gather information on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden. In the effort to gain information from Al Qaeda operatives, the interrogation method of waterboarding was used. It covers much of the interrogation of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM). Information gathered from KSM was critical in identifying that Osama bin Laden was at the Abbottabad compound. In the interest of national security and the fight for our country and safety of our people, ethics are sometimes not the guiding force behind decisions made, the mission is, and depending on the mission interrogation methods like waterboarding can be beneficial.
When individuals sign up to volunteer for service, whether it be with a government agency, like the CIA, or the military, they are accepting and acknowledging the fact that they will be following the orders of those in positions above them. The …show more content…
In the situation with Al Qaeda and its members, they are a terrorist organization, therefore, they would not fall into the category of a lawful combatant. “Terrorists, by contrast, are unlawful combatants. They do not wear uniforms or distinctive insignia, or follow a clear chain of command. Not only do they hide among innocent civilians, their primary means of attacking us is to target innocent men, women and children for death. Because they violate the laws of war, they do not receive the privileges that a lawful combatant receives as a POW under Geneva” (Thiessen, M.