Ross J. Belcastro – 5/5/09

This page was last updated on May 8, 2009.

Let’s talk about double standards; Ross J. Belcastro; Beaver County Times; May 5, 2009.

In his last letter, Mr. Belcastro told us “High-speed rail would aid economy.”

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“In response to Friday’s letter to the editor ‘Obama’s double standard on abortion:’”

[RWC] Before I proceed, let me state what should be obvious. To the best of my knowledge, no one who supports the use of “torture” to obtain life-saving info likes the option and it certainly is an option of last resort. It’s no different than killing someone in self-defense. While we all agree killing someone is wrong, most of us make an exception when it comes to self-defense or to defend the life of an innocent. Why should it be any different for torture?

I encourage you to read the so-called “torture memos” released by the U.S. DOJ on April 16, 2009, to learn what many “anti-torture” people consider torture. For example, the Obama administration considers the “attention grasp” to be torture. According to the 8/1/02 memo, “The attention grasp consists of grasping the individual with both hands, one hand on each side of the collar opening, in a controlled and quick manner. In the same motion, the individual is drawn toward the interrogator.”

Finally, it’s disinformation that torture doesn’t work. Even Sen. John McCain, who opposes torture, conceded torture (the real kind, not the Obama definition) eventually worked on him. Does it always work? Of course not, just as with anything else.

“Many antiabortionists who are so appalled at the thought of aborting an unborn child have no problem torturing live people.”

[RWC] It appears Mr. Belcastro doesn’t consider unborn children to be alive. Perhaps that’s what allows Mr. Belcastro to take his position.

“Antiabortionists care so much for the unborn child, but they mostly could care less or at all after the child is born.”

[RWC] What a smear! Can Mr. Belcastro provide the data to support such a mean-spirited comment?

“Who has the double standard here?”

[RWC] Note Mr. Belcastro’s attempt at moral equivalence. Mr. Belcastro attempts to equate killing an innocent unborn child for nothing other than convenience with “torturing” terrorists to gain information that could save lives. Further, it would be interesting to learn which questioning techniques Mr. Belcastro considers “torture.”

I wonder if Mr. Belcastro had a problem with President Obama ordering the murder (I’m intentionally using lefty lingo.) of three Somali pirates who were holding the U.S. ship captain hostage. If Mr. Belcastro had a problem with it, he didn’t tell us. Is killing someone less offensive than what Mr. Belcastro considers “torture?”

Finally, here are two scenarios for folks like Mr. Belcastro to consider.

In scenario #1, a terrorist has his finger on a switch that will detonate a bomb that would kill 1,000 innocent people. The terrorist is in position where a sniper’s bullet could kill the terrorist and save the innocents.

In scenario #2, the same terrorist told us he planted a time bomb that would kill 1,000 innocent people, but he didn’t tell us when or where.

Is it OK for the sniper to kill the terrorist in scenario #1 and save 1,000 lives?

Is it OK torture the terrorist in scenario #2 to obtain info that would allow us to save 1,000 lives?

If the answers for the two scenarios are “no,” why?

If the answers for the two scenarios are different, why?