Essay Against Torture

When it comes to the topic of torturing terrorists for information, most of us will readily agree that it’s a debatable topic. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of whether useful information could be gained from torturing terrorists. Whereas some are convinced that torture could be used as a tool for obtaining information, others maintain that torture is not effective and can even result in gaining false information. I agree that torture is a necessary tool for gaining information from terrorists because it is possible that future terrorist attacks can happen. Torture should be used to prevent future attacks and provide safety to American citizens as it is an effective way of gaining information. America has had countless terrorist attacks over the previous decades that could have been avoided if the …show more content…
One may ask themselves whether they should torture in an attempt to gain information or not torture because the captured terrorist might not even know the correct information. According to Bagaric, “The second common objection to torture is that we can never be sure that the suspect has the relevant information. If that’s the case, simply don’t torture, in the same way that we’re not permitted to shoot in self-defense until we’re sure that the proposed target is up to no good” (Bagaric). In other words, Bagaric believes that torture shouldn’t be used unless it is known that the captured terrorist (or suspect) actually has the intelligence needed to be gained. Torturing someone who doesn’t even have the information needed is wrong as its inflicting pain that can’t be stopped unless false confessions are given. For torture to be an effective way of saving others as well as a method of interrogation, it must be used on the correct person who can give truthful