Ethical Dilemma Created from Torture

One of the themes present in Zero Dark Thirty, which in turn creates an ethical dilemma, is the use of torture. This is a central theme in the film, and it is also a main tool that Dan uses several times to gain information. Because this film depicts the eventual capture of Osama Bin Laden by the American government, we are meant to feel a bit uncomfortable about the methods and means the military uses to gain the information necessary to locate Bin Laden and capture him. Torture is a controversial topic because many Americans have mixed feelings about what particular methods of torture should be allowed and which should be banned. In Zero Dark Thirty, because Osama Bin Laden is considered to be a threat of the highest level, and because capturing him is of the highest priority to the President of the United States, who is the commander and chief of the military, it is a bit more understandable that the military would bend moral boundaries to achieve this end. My issue with torture is that it has always seemed to me that it would be highly unlikely or nearly impossible for our enemies in the Middle East to defeat us, the United States. It is a completely unrealistic fear. In addition, it is my belief that we would have caught Bin Laden eventually, regardless of whether or not we used torture methods. We are the inevitable victors in this long and drawn out fight. But at the end of the day many Americans saw Osama Bin Laden as being responsible for the September 11^th attacks as well as the chaos in Iraq and Afghanistan that occurred during much of the 90’s and 2000’s, and wanted to see him brought to justice, and that the only way to achieve this was to kill him, because he was to dangerous alive.