Quote:
Therefore, in my view, it's better to NOT torture hundreds of terrorists who know things, than to wrongly torture an innocent man who knows nothing.
Then it's a good thing that you are not a member of the intelligence community or in any way charged with the protection of this country. You would simply be the wrong person for that job. I don't know that I would be the right guy for that job, but your reticense to do whatever it takes to do that job would make you a VERY bad choice.
I'm glad that there are those who ARE willing to do whatever it takes.
To paraphrase a statement I once heard on this subject, "G-d forbid if everyone was willing to do whatever it takes to obtain information in the war on terror, and G-d forbid if NOONE was willing to whatever it takes to otain information in the war on terror."
There's a line from one of my favorite movies that sort of puts your position in perspective. The movie is Heartbreak Ridge, (Clint Eastwood, Warner Bros. 1986).
"Characters like you are an anachronism. You should be sealed in a case that says break glass only in the event of war."
I get that. People who really are willing to do ANYTHING to accomplish the mission, no matter how nasty, don't make for good houseguests.
But the war is already here. Time to break the glass and let the nasty guys out of the box to do their jobs.
Kipling also wrote about it in his poem Tommy.
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o'beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's ``Thank you, Mister Atkins,'' when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's ``Thank you, Mr. Atkins,'' when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy how's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind,"
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!
People don't like the guys who do nasty stuff to protect them. Killing, torturing, blowing stuff up... it's all very nasty and not the type of thing you want to deal with in polite company. "Real Americans" don't do that stuff. We're better than that. And anyone who is willing to do that stuff is a bad person. But when the planes start crashing into buildings, we demand that the nasty guys in uniform Do Something About It. And when they do something about it, they get reamed out for being too nasty. Personally, I'd rather just say "thank you" and let them get on with their jobs.
Elliot
