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Justice and the War on Terror
This course discusses negotiating with terrorists in exchange for the freedom of hostages, using torture to gain information that may save live, and offers the Jewish perspective on current events.
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Part 1: Negotiating with Terror
In 2011, Israel set 1,027 prisoners free in exchange for the release of Gilad Shalit. More recently, the rise of ISIS and the murders of James Foley and Steven Sutloff and others have forced us to revisit this heart wrenching debate: Should we pay hefty ransoms or release dangerous criminals in exchange for the life and freedom of an innocent hostage?
Part 2: Torturing to Save Lives
The recent “Torture Report” alleges that the brutal interrogation techniques used by the CIA in the aftermath of 9/11 were ineffective. But what if they did yield valuable information–would they have been justified? While the evils of terror must be combated, human rights must also be protected. How are we to balance these competing values?
