Another Rochester Genius gets the award!

The wonderful right wing rag aka Republican & Chronicle, printed editorial column words from a 17 year old. Astonishing lies and ignorance, cloaked in "a strong christian background"...

Sometimes there's no alternative to harsh treatment

Why are people so disgusted with the "enhanced interrogation techniques" at Guantanamo Bay? Critics claim that such treatment is three things — ineffective, unnecessary and inhumane. Let's examine these three points.

According to Michael Hayden, the former director of the CIA, torture techniques such as waterboarding have indeed been effective in the past. The names of many al Qaeda leaders were revealed during these interrogations, and they were later arrested — Abu Zubaydah (a senior terrorist leader and a trusted associate of bin Laden), Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks), Hambali (the leader of al Qaeda's Southeast Asian affiliate), and Yazid (a producer of anthrax for al Qaeda). The CIA has also foiled future terrorist attacks on Los Angeles, on the U.S. Marines at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti, on the U.S. consulate in Karachi, and many other targets.

But is there a more merciful alternative? No. The problem with demanding information from terrorists is that there is nothing to threaten them with. Do you really think that they would reveal anything if the CIA simply asked? They hate America and have devoted their lives to killing innocent people. There is no way to persuade them except through brute force.

However, I cannot deny that torture is inhumane. Coming from a strong christian background, I remember well that Jesus said "love your enemy." But consider the concept of utilitarianism, achieving the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Jesus died by this principle; he sacrificed himself so that Christians who followed could be saved. Similarly, America is torturing a handful of al Qaeda leaders to prevent future atrocities.

And let's be practical — simulating the death of a few men is certainly worth saving the lives of thousands of Americans. In the end, sometimes doing something that is not politically correct, or even humane, can prevent something worse from happening. I love America, and I believe that national security should never be jeopardized.

Fedyk is a member of the Teen Council.