The Daily Galaxy

Once again we turn to a comedy program for a poignant debate of philosophical issues. The subject: Torture.

During World War II, the Japanese tortured US soldiers in the fear that America was going to drop the Atomic bomb on their cities. After this war, Japanese soldiers were prosecuted for the same acts that the Bush administration endorsed.

Do you think it would save people from being raped, from being murdered, from being hurt by torturing everyone that is in a prison in the United States? And every person that we suspect might have an idea to commit a crime? – Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart went on to suggest that the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were criminal acts, though he later retracted his assertions.

But Jon Stewart raises an interesting point:

Should our governments be permitted to commit acts of aggression that their own citizens would be prosecuted for?

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