In response to arguments against torture, the right-wingers are always bringing up the imaginary "ticking timebomb" situation, where a suspect basically says "I know about planned attacks but I'll never talk! Muahahaha!" I call this "imaginary" because it never happens in real life. It happens on asinine TV shows like "24" all the time, though, and since most people spend far more time watching these "Jack Bauer" shows than anything else, they are left with the false belief that this type of situation is not only plausible, but common.
However, that being said, I think we've seen something close to a "ticking-timebomb" scenario with some of these right-wing terrorists. For example, the Christofascist, faith-based terrorist who murdered abortion provider Dr. Tiller two weeks ago stated, when captured, that "there were other attacks planned on abortion doctors."
To be clear, I'm against the use of torture. Morality aside, it is bad policy for two simple reasons: it gives our enemies propaganda and it doesn't provide accurate information.
But why are the right-wingers not yelling and screaming that we should torture this most recently captured terrorist? He's not just a "suspected terrorist" because some sheepherder in Afghanistan told us "that guy is Al Queda, now where's my reward?" - he is an actual terrorist guilty of (at least) one confirmed terrorist attack - the actual murder of Dr. Tiller at his church. He claims to have information about additional terrorist attacks. He didn't make this claim under duress - he volunteered it and was proud of it.
This statement is by far the closest thing to an actual "ticking timebomb" situation that the pro-torture right-wingers are always citing as an example for using torture. So... where's the consistency?
Of course, I think the simple answer as to their silence is quite clear - they want these threatened terrorist attacks to take place. Getting actionable intelligence from these people (assuming they actually do know something about future attacks) is the last thing pro-torture right-wingers want to do - they want the terrorist attacks to succeed.
I simply think someone high-up in the Obama administration needs to make this point. Sign an executive order that says any right-wing, anti-government, anti-abortion, anti-minority, domestic terrorist suspect who indicates they have information about planned domestic terrorist attacks will be taken to Guantanamo and subjected to "enhanced interrogation." We can't keep them here - not even in American SuperMax prisons - they're "just too dangerous." I don't want any radical right-wing terrorist in my backyard. NIMBY NIMBY NIMBY!
We should at least say we're going to torture... err... subject these right-wing terrorist extremists to "enhanced interrogation." You know, to protect the American people. To protect our precious children. For freedom and democracy.
Sometimes the best way to deal with grossly hypocritical people and their unjustifiable double standards is to call their bluff.