Hassaballa's Argument On Terrorism

When it comes to the topic of torture most of us will readily agree that it is morally wrong. Where this agreement usually ends however is on the question of terrorism. Whereas some are convinced that torture tactics should be used on a terrorist to gain valuable information, others maintain that false information can be received. In my own view, torture interrogation tactics should be considered when dealing with a terrorist threat because a terrorist performs acts of violence to achieve a specific political aim. A terrorist will put innocent lives in danger to achieve his political aim. Terrorism is not new and even though it has been used since the early times of recorded history, it can be relatively hard to define. It has been described …show more content…
According to Hesham Hassaballa, “It is immoral to torture another human being, no matter how depraved and criminal; that we are America, and we truly do not torture those in our custody” (Hassaballa). The essence of Hassaballa argument is that we cannot betray our principles as a nation and torture those in our custody. By focusing on the pros of torture research, Hassaballa overlooks the issues with terrorism which can validate the use of torture. There can be scenarios where the use of torture can be validated due to uncooperative terrorist detainees who do not want to disclose information on their plans of terrorist …show more content…
According to Alan Dershowitz, “Every democracy confronted with a genuine choice of evils between allowing many of its citizens to be killed by terrorists, or employing some forms of torture to prevent such multiple deaths, will option for the use of torture.” In other words, Dershowitz believes if thousands of innocent lives are at risk because of a terrorist then torture tactics should be used against the suspect. It may seem cruel but torture tactics can get the truth out of the terrorist and therefore save all the lives that were in danger. Saving lives has a higher value then avoiding infliction of pain, especially where the lives are innocent and when the pain would be inflicted on guilty