Pursuit of Honor metacommentary

I wrote Pursuit of Honor because the United States is facing backhanded, cowardly terrorist attacks and in order to protect the American people these terrorists and anyone else who harbors them or condones their actions should and must be brought to justice by any means necessary. Terrorists, at their core, are really idiotic lunatics who just want to destroy American cultures, ideals and values. In response, it is not only important but also imperative that we elicit information from these terrorists in any way possible, including torture. Paper-pushing, sheltered office politicians are not only wrong to oppose torture, but they are endangering national security by publicly opposing it and by letting bureaucracy get in the way of justified, vigilante justice. Large government only ends up getting in the way of protecting its constituents. This is evidenced with the rise of the Tea Party that is “an authentic popular movement, brought on by anger over the economy and distrust of government- at all levels, and in both parties,” (Zernike 5). Individuals are finally realizing the importance of having a small government and are demanding that government reduce restrictions and cut programs.

A distinction must be made between friend and enemy in order to further the interests of the United States, and enemies deserve to be tortured and even killed in the name of national security. Politicians especially need to realize that methods such as torture are necessary because “the specific political distinction to which political actions and motives can be reduced in that between friend and enemy,” (Schmitt 26). Terrorists are enemies and thus they should be treated accordingly. It is unfortunate that politicians do not realize that enemies are present at home and abroad; the American people expect that they be protected by all threats equally, internal and external. Torture functions to protect citizens from these threats.

I intended this book to be read by ordinary citizens as well as politicians to enlighten them on the importance and place of torture as a means to protect the rights and liberties of all American citizens. Using the method of torture to protect the nation seems rash and wrong to those individuals who oppose it because they don’t realize that in order to combat irrational, crazy lunatics you have to break some rules in order to get the job done and restore safety. The murder of Dan Stewart and his wife who were law abiding American citizens by terrorists illustrates the urgency to deal with terrorists as enemies. Hakim, Ahmed and Karim invade Stewart’s home and kill him on the spot, shooting his wife in bed. This should convince all readers that terrorists are cold-blooded murderers who prey on innocent, defenseless citizens.

I chose to write from the point of view of the CIA because this forces the reader to identify with the perspective of those who must torture traitors and terrorists to keep the country safe. The truth that torture is not only necessary but desirable is legitimated through Mitch Rapp who must use these methods in order to save the day and put down terrorists. Rapp must put his life on the line in order to keep the country safe day in and day out, and the only way he can do the job right is through torture and by keeping large government away from his work.