The ethical dilemma in Zero Dark Thirty is obvious from the beginning, that torture an acceptable way to get information out of enemy combatants who otherwise would not share information. Or are there better ways?
I believe torture is a terrible way to retrieve information and that more humane ways of extracting informations need to be researched. Better ways such as reliable lie-detectors, better social engineering, or mind tricks could be used to retrieve information. Mind tricks include simulated jail breaks, or other tactics to get the captives to let their guards down. Assuming that torture is the most reliable way to get information is relying on brute force instead using smart tactics. The treatment of prisoners by U.S. soldiers in the movie is very similar to prisoner treatment in Sand Queen. Our corrupt government looks the other way when atrocities happen to prisoners just to get results. They forget that enemy combatants are still human beings and should be treated as such.
I definitely agree that torture is not the best method of information extraction, but it might be the only way to get certain information from certain types of people. I believe that my lifelong exposure to media violence for entertainment has desensitized me to this type of treatment, especially since it is far removed from me. I'm sure that I would feel completely opposite if I had to witness torture in person. So, getting that out of the way, I am hopefully optimistic that better, more humane ways of retrieving intel will be recognized and implemented soon. Everyone's humanity should be respected. Everyone should have the right to live and die with dignity.
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