CIA used mock executions etc.

[Kazuaki Shimazaki II]

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

See - this is where it becomes impossible to discuss this topic, because some here look at a terrorist who would cut their throat, shoot their children and rape and kill their wife - as someone who deserves some level of "humane treatment".

For better or for worse, Western civilization has raised the "humane treatment" part into something of a deontological principle rather than a utilitarian calculation. Probably it has to do with the history that making it a matter for utilitarian calculation doesn't seem to wind up real well in practice.

It boils down to this for those who see things in a way similiar to the way I do:

#1 A terrorist is someone who is willing to commit murder on the innocent to achieve his goals.

#2 Willingness to be a terrorist therefore is a willful denial of the human rights of others.

#3 Such willful denial creates a humanoid animal - like a rabid dog. As such, just like a rabid dog, the animal is a threat to innocent life and thus should be put down.

And before you try to turn the argument around by claiming that denying a human being "humane treatment" would therefore make us terrorists, recall that it was their acts - carried out, attempted or simply planned, that removed them from the status of Homo Sapien, and thus there is no loss of humanity in putting down a rabid dog to save a child, a family, or a society. If they weren't out to kill the innocent, they wouldn't be terrorists, and thus would have rights to humane treatment. But they aren't. So, better to have them dead. Or would you rather they take out your family members next? *Yes - its rhetorical because some here can't seem to get it through their heads that you can't just "talk" to a rabid dog.

Mere self rationalization. If it is immoral acts that are "carried out, attempted or simply planned" that disqualify a person from the status of Homo Sapien, then it follows that whether you do it First or Second, you can disqualify yourself.

Now, let's look at the "planned" part. If you arrest a supposed terrorist that's supposedly planning, but you EXECUTED your "terror" part first, then who went First in the end?

As for "a terrorist is someone who is willing to commit murder on the innocent to achieve his goals" ... well, wow, the entire Strategic Air Command, RVSN, every SSBN crew ... etc are all terrorists.