Full Version: “The fight against terrorism cannot be won
“The fight against terrorism cannot be won at the expense of innocent lives,” Fred Eckhard, Annan's spokesman, said in New York.
In specific reference to the incident regarding the Afgahn children recently killed.
What are your views on this concept?
I am aware that you have to crack some eggs to make an omelette but I guess I am hinting at a wider philosophical question:
Viewing the conflict in a utilitarian sense, is there or should there be a limit to the amount of death and suffering caused worldwide in order to stem terror?
We want to stem terror to protect our own people, to prevent their deaths in other words. However we have already killed many times more people in Iraq than the 911 incident altogether. Is this OK, given we are aiming at something productive (Peace) and not just destruction as Al Queda are? Or is killing the same anywhere regardless of the motive?
Many will argue (probably me included) that the deaths are perhaps not equal since we are reacting to an act of war and we represent universal values of freedom, tolerance and justice, whereas terrorist organisations and the states that sponsor them as essentially evil beings opressing others and causing terror not only here, but in their own countries as well.
I would to summarise my position by saying that I believe it is important to respect the civilian impact abroad, given that we have certainly killed more Iraqi civilians than the number that dies in 911. For me, innocent people are innocent no matter what nation, color or creed. The belief that ones own nation's people are somehow more important than the lives of others is a nationalistic belief I am very much opposed to.
In specific reference to the incident regarding the Afgahn children recently killed.
What are your views on this concept?
I am aware that you have to crack some eggs to make an omelette but I guess I am hinting at a wider philosophical question:
Viewing the conflict in a utilitarian sense, is there or should there be a limit to the amount of death and suffering caused worldwide in order to stem terror?
We want to stem terror to protect our own people, to prevent their deaths in other words. However we have already killed many times more people in Iraq than the 911 incident altogether. Is this OK, given we are aiming at something productive (Peace) and not just destruction as Al Queda are? Or is killing the same anywhere regardless of the motive?
Many will argue (probably me included) that the deaths are perhaps not equal since we are reacting to an act of war and we represent universal values of freedom, tolerance and justice, whereas terrorist organisations and the states that sponsor them as essentially evil beings opressing others and causing terror not only here, but in their own countries as well.
I would to summarise my position by saying that I believe it is important to respect the civilian impact abroad, given that we have certainly killed more Iraqi civilians than the number that dies in 911. For me, innocent people are innocent no matter what nation, color or creed. The belief that ones own nation's people are somehow more important than the lives of others is a nationalistic belief I am very much opposed to.
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Topic closed...</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Reason: Question to debate too vague or missing.<br /><br />Recommended action: If you started this topic, please contact the staff member who closed it by clicking the PM button below this post with a clear question to debate.<br /><br />Helpful links:<br />- Starting New Topics<br />- Survival Guide<br />- The Rules<br />- Staff Directory</td></tr><tr><td class='darkrow1'><div align='center'>Note: This is an automated response.</div></td></tr></table></div>
Topic closed...</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Reason: Question to debate too vague or missing.<br /><br />Recommended action: If you started this topic, please contact the staff member who closed it by clicking the PM button below this post with a clear question to debate.<br /><br />Helpful links:<br />- Starting New Topics<br />- Survival Guide<br />- The Rules<br />- Staff Directory</td></tr><tr><td class='darkrow1'><div align='center'>Note: This is an automated response.</div></td></tr></table></div>
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