DOES THE END JUSTIFY THE MEANS?
Terrorists abound. You adopt terrorist tactics in self defense. You surrender freedom
to protect it. You destroy villages to save
them. The sergeant in "Hill Street Blues", a popular cops and robbers television program
some years ago, ends the weekly precinct meeting with the admonition, "Do it to
them before they do it to you." Strike first. There may be no second chance.
Besides, it's the
other fellow's fault. If he weren't such a bastard you wouldn't have to do what
you have to do.
Should the United States employ assasins as instruments of
foreign policy? Other countries do. Does the end justify the means?
No. Not ever.