Poll Indicates 1 in 5 Americans Support Torture

I found an article today that really struck interesting regarding American citizens' views on torture. In fact, a recent poll indicated that six out of ten Americans think that the procedures and measures that the FBI is going to to get information is necessary. I think a big part of this opinion is fear. When people don't have information and there are terrorists out there, they fear for their lives and may accuse people who may be innocent. When there is fear, people act on it and it is not always the most rational action. We discussed waterboarding in class and in this article 64% of people polled did not consider it a form of torture. Does drowning someone on the brink of death NOT considered torture? What about the "suspected" terrorists who really are not involved in terrorist organizations? But then again, if we don't use different procedures to extract information, how will we ever get it? 57% of Americans do not want Bush Administration officers to be investigated for authorizing these procedures, because they feel it is a necessary means of finding out the real terrorists. But really, who says we will get truthful information that isn't tampered with and distorted? It is a very hard topic to decipher right from wrong, and which procedures are humane and which are not. The dilemma remains as to how to deal with terrorists how to get valid information. With everything going on in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Iran right now, the Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations need to be deciphered and understood. These alleged terrorists are one of the United States' only means of obtaining knowledge. But does that mean torture when there is not substantial evidence? Obama is working hard to aid Pakistan and Afghanistan in their path toward democracy to defeat Al Qaeda, but what are the limits? Where is the point where we become too involved? Wheres the line between humane and inhumane?