Interrogators should have the legal right to torture terrorists.

MY OPPONENT CLAIMS: I would like to thank my opponent for accepting my challenge. I believe that the idea that torture is always wrong is a distorted moral judgment. Any interrogation method can be identified as torture. Take the "Chinese water method" for example. It's not even a splash of water on the face. It's just a drip. But even a drip sustained long and relentlessly enough is torture. Interrogation and torture go hand in hand. An interrogation is inflicting pain or anguish in order to obtain information. Inflicting pain or anguish is torture. Lets say our government captures a terrorist that has planted a nuclear bomb in New York City. Wouldn't the government have a moral duty to do whatever is necessary to get the information out of the suspect? Using violence to protect innocent people isn't morally wrong. It's self-defense. In a hostage-taking scenario, where a wrongdoer takes a hostage and points a gun to the hostage's head, it is not only permissible but desirable for a police officer to shoot and kill the wrongdoer if he gets a clear shot. It is universally accepted that it is permissible to violate the right to life of the aggressor to save the innocent person. Therefore, how can it be wrong to violate an even less important right (the right to physical integrity) by torturing a terrorist in order to protect innocent life? Yes, he has just said that torture is humane, if it is helping save lives, however according to the New York Times Article entitled "Truly Torture" it stated that when the CIA is acting to get information out of terrorists, they usually torture them. The CIA even admits, that some of the methods that they use, are inhumane. " Following this quote was a list of tortures that they used. Since I cant copy-paste from the NYTIMES. com website, I will accurately copy them down: Water boarding: The process of placing a bag on one's head, inclining him and pouring water down his breathing passages to simulate drowning. "The Rack": The process of laying someone down on a moveable board and tethering his wrists to each end. Then a crank is turned to stretch the body. This is the most used torture by the US behind water boarding and approximately 65% of the time that it is used results in death. (Note: Snap! ) "Chinese Water Torture" (as stated by my opponent): The process of laying someone on a board tied down from head to toe. Then water is dripped in 10-second intervals. This causes a type of psychological distress causing the brain to disrupt and possibly explode. (Yes, I said explode) The topic of this debate is to give Interrogators the right to torture terrorists. Well, it does not say guilty terrorists. For support, I turn to an Anecdote (. http://www.nytimes.com...) about a man by the name of John Rothschild, who was arrested at an airport for possession of a possible toxic powder. He was sent to Guantanamo, and was reportedly water boarded over and over and over again. Until… the results returned from the powder, and it ended up being (get ready…) powdered Lemonade for a bottle of water. You may be laughing, but currently Mr. Rothschild is at a psych ward for his mental distress. Needless to say, he is suing the government. I urge a CON ballot, because my opponent has failed to show what happens to those who are innocent and lacks support for his argument (which I have taken apart). Let's remember the phrase "Innocent until proven Guilty" when voting.