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That's why we need this debate.
Let's suppose you personally know that a 100 megaton nuclear weapon is located in Central Park and is going to go off in 24 hours. You can't search the entire park, as it is over 800 acres. You have as prisoner, a man who knows where the bomb is because he placed it. He is not responding to feather tickling the bottom of his feet.
If the bomb detonates it will kill 5M and sicken another 5M. It will also put the economy of the US and the entire world into immediate economic depression, thus leading to the indirect killing of millions of other people. Moreover, it threatens all of world-wide civilization and, militarily, absolutely requires a nuclear response so that some semblance of Mutually Assured Destruction remains a preventative threat.
What would be appropriate? Would you, personally, waterboard this gentleman just to see what comes out of him?
Would you do it even if you knew it might not work?
Would you do it if you knew you might be prosecuted?
Would you still wonder who was the bad guy?
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