Critical Thinking Research Paper

Lily Haeberle
CAP 9
Green
5-2-14











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Terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (A.Q.I.M.)
and Al Mulathameen Battalion threaten the lives of Americans here and abroad and need to be
stopped by any means possible, including the use of enhanced interrogation techniques (torture)
on captured group members to gain information to thwart future attacks (New York Times).
According to the U.S. State Department, terrorism by definition is a premeditated, politically
motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or
clandestine agents (Washington Post). Concerns about terrorism have risen since the World
Trade Center and Pentagon attacks on September 11
th
, 2001, and Americans are deeply
concerned for their own safety and the well-being of their loved ones all over the globe. In late
April 2014, the State Department reported a 40% increase in terrorist attacks worldwide between
2012 and 2013 (U.S. State Department). The use of torture on prisoners accused of terrorism will
enable the government to gain critical information that will result in the foiling of a terrorist
attack as it did for CIA agents performing enhanced interrogation techniques on Abu Zubaydah,
a Saudi Arabian terrorist, in 2002 (The Economist).

Terrorism has been a problem for hundreds of years and continues to threaten our country
today. The effects of terrorism are personal as well as financial. Lives are lost, people get injured
and are afraid for their well-being. Financially, the government spends a great amount of money
to equip facilities with the proper protections and law enforcements. Also, needing to repair
buildings and infrastructures when terrorist attacks demolish structures can be costly (120.org).
Globally, about 6,500 people died from terrorist attacks between 2001 and 2010 (START). In
2010, here in Silver Spring, a man held 3 people hostage in the Discovery Building while armed
with pistols and explosive devices. Police later killed him on the scene (NBC). In 1993, a radical
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Islamist Ramzi Yousef bombed the World Trade Center; authorities later discovered that he was
a member of Al-Qaeda (FBI.gov). This attack was said to potentially be preventable if the State
Department had paid closer attention to certain warnings (Washington Times). These attacks
were on U.S. soil but others have occurred overseas in countries like Benghazi, Libya. Although
terrorists have succeeded in attacking civilians around the world, more so outside the United
States, dozens of plots have failed.

Since the attack on 9/11, U.S. law enforcement and intelligence have thwarted at least 60
terrorist plots against America, according to the Heritage Foundation. In December 2001,
Richard Reid, a British citizen who followed Bin Laden and trained in Afghanistan hid
explosives inside his shoes before boarding a flight from Paris to Miami on which he attempted
to light the fuse with a match (Heritage.org). He was caught in the act and after being found
guilty with charges of terrorism is now incarcerated at a maximum-security prison in Chicago.
Splinter groups from Al-Qaeda have spread through the Middle East and Africa and continue
to foster hatred for America (New York Times).

President Obama reminded us of this continued threat in his May 2013 speech at the
National Defense University when stating that, our nation is still threatened by terrorists. From
Benghazi to Boston, we have been tragically reminded of that truth (Whitehouse.gov). We also
face the threat of radicalized Americans who terrorize their own people. For example: the man in
Newtown, Connecticut and the extremists who killed 168 people at the Federal Building in
Oklahoma City (Whitehouse.gov). These deranged or alienated individuals learn from
previous attacks and become inspired by those larger notions of violent jihad
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(Whitehouse.gov). This problem affects all Americans in and outside of the U.S.; Benghazi
proved that. There are terrorists who attack for religious reasons and terrorists who are deranged
human beings, our nation has faced and continues to face both of these types of terrorists.

To eliminate the threat of terrorism against the United States, we must use hardened
techniques on captives to gain vital information, which will prevent the loss of more lives. The
use of terror on convicted terrorists can be justified because it could save thousands of lives.
According to authors Mirko Bagaric and Julie Clarke, it is okay for the guilty to be subjected to
torture [but] only for the purpose of extracting information (Stanford.edu). By definition, torture
is a practice involving the infliction of extreme physical suffering, for example waterboarding,
electric shock and sleep deprivation (Stanford.edu). However, it is ultimately used to prevent
rather than punish. While torture is seen as a barbaric practice, mass murder is far more barbaric.
By gaining information on future attacks, we save hundreds of more lives that could have
potentially been taken if we hadnt caught and interrogated these terrorists. The use of torture is a
way to prevent future evils.

In extreme circumstances when the military needs to learn vital information quickly,
torture is necessary. The use of enhanced interrogation techniques will allow the government to
gather information they need to stop another attack. After the attack on the World Trade Center
in 1993, George Bush used hardened techniques on only 30-40 captured terrorists. Security
services narrow down the suspects who hold the most vital information so that they can quickly
prevent innocent lives from being taken (Stanford.edu). If there is a ticking time bomb planted
somewhere and the authorities have the suspected terrorist who most likely knows the bombs
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whereabouts, they will perform enhanced interrogation techniques. Terrorist, Abu Zubaydah,
was held captive and tortured until he began cooperating. His cooperation during the enhanced
interrogation disrupted a number of attacks, maybe dozens of attacks (The Economist).
Torturing the guilty few for the purpose of saving the innocent many is worth it in the end
(Standford.edu).

Terrorists who plot to kill thousands of Americans relinquish their human rights. Charles
Krauthammer, an American columnist argued that a terrorist is entitled to no protections
whatsoever because they have violated the Geneva Convention. The Geneva Convention states
that combatants would be denied the protection of the code if they broke the laws of war and
abused civilians themselves and terrorist do just that (CFR). When people argue that torture
violates prisoners human rights, they have to remember that terrorists lost their rights the
moment they killed an innocent civilian. Terrorists do not deserve protection since they hold
critical information that could be used to save innocent lives.

If this problem of terrorism is not solved we will continue to lose more innocent lives and
ruthless organizations like Al-Qaeda will only grow stronger. Perhaps torture could even worsen
the problem by making terrorists vengeful for the way we treated their partners. But, America
cannot be seen as a weak nation and more vulnerable to attacks. Critics will see us as an easy
target since we arent taking care of the problem. President Obama stated that doing nothing is
not an option in his speech at the National Defense University. Taking action against terrorists
will diminish the amount of attacks on America and can hopefully lead us to ending our war with
Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.
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The worldwide threat of terrorist attacks against Americans continues and must be
stopped. For example, in 2013, the group Mulathameen, designated as a foreign terrorist
organization by the State Department, attacked a gas plant in Algeria causing the death of 38
civilians including 3 Americans (New York Times). Using enhanced interrogation techniques
against captured terrorists to gain vital information about future attacks will enable the U.S. to
prevent these attacks before they happen. The use of such interrogation techniques can be
justified for three reasons: they could save thousands of lives, it is necessary in extreme
circumstances, and terrorists have relinquished their human rights by killing innocent citizens.
Torture should not be viewed as a punishment, but as a way to prevent future evils and ultimately
eliminate the threat once and for all.





















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Works Cited
Background Report:9/11 Ten Years Later. N.p.: START, 2011. Print.
Beehner, Lionel. "The United States and The Geneva Conventions." Council On Foreign
Relations. CFR, 20 Sept. 2006. Web. 4 May 2014. <http://www.cfr.org/international-
law/united-states-geneva-conventions/p11485>.
Carafano, James Jay, Steven P. Bucci, and Jessica Zuckerman. "Fifty Terror Plots Foiled Since
9/11: The Homegrown Threat and the Long War on Terrorism." The Heritage
Foundation. The heritage foundation, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2012/04/fifty-terror-plots-foiled-since-9-11-
the-homegrown-threat-and-the-long-war-on-terrorism>.
Dinan, Stephen. "BENGHAZI WAS PREVENTABLE: Hillary Clinton cited for major security
lapses." The Washinton Times [Washinton D.C.] 15 Jan. 2014: n. pag. The Washington
Times. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/15/obama-
bungled-benghazi-could-have-prevented-attack/>.
"Discovery Building Gunman Spoke to NBC News." NBC. NBC. Washington D.C., 2 Sept.
2010. nbcnews.com. Web. 3 May 2014.
<http://www.nbcnews.com/id/38962968/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/discovery-
building-gunman-spoke-nbc-news/#.U2VK8xaIpUR>.
"Does torture work?" The Economist 27 Jan. 2009: n. pag. The Economist. Web. 4 May 2014.
<http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2009/01/does_torture_work_1>.
"FBI 100 First Strike: Global Terror in America." FBI.gov. FBI, n.d. Web. 3 May 2014.
<http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2008/february/tradebom_022608>.
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Gordon, Michael R. "State Dept. Warns of New Terrorist Group Posing Threat to U.S. Interests
in Africa." The New York Times [New York City]: n. pag. The New York Times. Web. 3
May 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/19/world/africa/state-dept-warns-of-new-
terrorist-group-posing-threat-to-us-interests-in-africa.html?_r=2&>.
Kessler, Glenn. "Hyping the number of deaths from terrorism." The Washington Post
[Washington D.C.] 6 Nov. 2013: n. pag. The Washington Post. Web. 3 May 2014.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2013/11/06/hyping-the-number-
of-deaths-from-terrorism/>.
Krugman, Paul. "THE COSTS OF TERRORISM: WHAT DO WE KNOW?" The Nexus of
Terrorism & WMDs: Developing a Consensus. Princeton University. 12 Dec. 2004.
120.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2014.
<http://www.l20.org/publications/9_7Q_wmd_krugman.pdf>.
Obama, President Barack Husain. "Remarks by the President at the National Defense
University." National Defense University. Fort McNair Washington, D.C. 23 May 2013.
The White House. the white house, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/23/remarks-president-national-
defense-university>.
"Terrorism Deaths, Injuries and Kidnappings of Private U.S. Citizens Overseas in 2013." U.S.
Department of State. U.S. State Department, 30 Apr. 2014. Web. 4 May 2014.
<http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2013/224833.htm#>.
"Torture." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford, 7 Feb. 2006. Web. 4 May 2014.
<http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/torture/#pagetopright>.

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Annotated Bibliography
Background Report:9/11 Ten Years Later. N.p.: START, 2011. Print. Useful information and
statistics. Reliable.
Beehner, Lionel. "The United States and The Geneva Conventions." Council On Foreign
Relations. CFR, 20 Sept. 2006. Web. 4 May 2014. <http://www.cfr.org/international-
law/united-states-geneva-conventions/p11485>. Quoted, reliable
Carafano, James Jay, Steven P. Bucci, and Jessica Zuckerman. "Fifty Terror Plots Foiled Since
9/11: The Homegrown Threat and the Long War on Terrorism." The Heritage
Foundation. The heritage foundation, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2012/04/fifty-terror-plots-foiled-since-9-11-
the-homegrown-threat-and-the-long-war-on-terrorism>. Found the 60 attacks that were
foiled. Reliable, quoted.
Dinan, Stephen. "BENGHAZI WAS PREVENTABLE: Hillary Clinton cited for major security
lapses." The Washinton Times [Washinton D.C.] 15 Jan. 2014: n. pag. The Washington
Times. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/15/obama-
bungled-benghazi-could-have-prevented-attack/>. Quoted, used to talk about previous
attacks, reliable.
"Discovery Building Gunman Spoke to NBC News." NBC. NBC. Washington D.C., 2 Sept.
2010. nbcnews.com. Web. 3 May 2014.
<http://www.nbcnews.com/id/38962968/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/discovery-
building-gunman-spoke-nbc-news/#.U2VK8xaIpUR>. Reliable, quoted, talked about
previous attacks
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"Does torture work?" The Economist 27 Jan. 2009: n. pag. The Economist. Web. 4 May 2014.
<http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2009/01/does_torture_work_1>.
Quoted, reliable, gained info on foiled attack
"FBI 100 First Strike: Global Terror in America." FBI.gov. FBI, n.d. Web. 3 May 2014.
<http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2008/february/tradebom_022608>. Reliable, used to
confirm info on attack
Gordon, Michael R. "State Dept. Warns of New Terrorist Group Posing Threat to U.S. Interests
in Africa." The New York Times [New York City]: n. pag. The New York Times. Web. 3
May 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/19/world/africa/state-dept-warns-of-new-
terrorist-group-posing-threat-to-us-interests-in-africa.html?_r=2&>. Reliable, good
statistics
Kessler, Glenn. "Hyping the number of deaths from terrorism." The Washington Post
[Washington D.C.] 6 Nov. 2013: n. pag. The Washington Post. Web. 3 May 2014.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2013/11/06/hyping-the-number-
of-deaths-from-terrorism/>. Quoted, reliable, used for definitions
Krugman, Paul. "THE COSTS OF TERRORISM: WHAT DO WE KNOW?" The Nexus of
Terrorism & WMDs: Developing a Consensus. Princeton University. 12 Dec. 2004.
120.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2014.
<http://www.l20.org/publications/9_7Q_wmd_krugman.pdf>. Reliable, got financial
info.
Obama, President Barack Husain. "Remarks by the President at the National Defense
University." National Defense University. Fort McNair Washington, D.C. 23 May 2013.
The White House. the white house, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
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<http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/23/remarks-president-national-
defense-university>. Very reliable, quoted, used for evidence
"Terrorism Deaths, Injuries and Kidnappings of Private U.S. Citizens Overseas in 2013." U.S.
Department of State. U.S. State Department, 30 Apr. 2014. Web. 4 May 2014.
<http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2013/224833.htm#>. very reliable, useful statistics
"Torture." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford, 7 Feb. 2006. Web. 4 May 2014.
<http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/torture/#pagetopright>. reliable, quoted