re: #85 b_sharp

How do you know he knows? How do you know about the bomb?

You don’t. That’s my point. The ‘ticking bomb’ scenario is based on the idea that there is no doubt, and that the danger is imminent. Since this doesn’t happen, using it as a justification for torture is moronic.

Dershowitz not only used it as a scenario, but went so far as to propose the issuing of ‘torture warrants’ for such scenarios.

So basically:

1. The terrorist is arrested. We know that he knows, beyond a shadow of doubt. The danger is time-imminent and specific. How do we know? We just know. Move on.

2. We wake up Judge Lynch (man never sleeps) and get a torture warrant issued.

3. Torture warrant in hand, we stick bamboo under Abdul’s fingernails until he tells us something. Or doesn’t.

4. Ohio is saved!

If anyone can believe in this scenario, they probably also believe in the tooth fairy.