I like watching the show 24 just as much as the next guy, but I need to make a point here. I think part of the reason why so many people don't seem to care about the torture sanctioned by the Bush administration is because most people that think torture is OK — If that torture is part of a "ticking time bomb" situation. I should know, because I used to be one of the ticking time bomb believers until I came to my senses....

The theory goes like this:  We shouldn't torture as a regular practice, but if someone has material information that can save American lives, we can and should do anything we can to get that information.  "Anything" means torture - and most people tend to believe it happens just like it does on 24:

• The "bad guy" has material information
• If something isn't done in the next few minutes, hours, or days - Americans will die
  
• The US officials torture "bad guy"
  
• The "bad guy" gives up the material information, just when the torture becomes really unbearable
• Hooray!! American lives are saved!!

The problem is that this isn't reality.  The fact is, there are people that want to kill Americans.  Many of these people are willing to die for their cause.  Do we really believe that these people will give us usable information after we torture them?  Do we really think they aren't just willing to wait a few more minutes, hours, or days to "complete the mission"?  If anything, they actually have the incentive to give out bad information that will send US officials on various wild goose chases. 

The whole thing is ridiculous, but the show 24 is perpetuating this fallacy.  For the record, I don't think Fox or the creators of 24 are to blame for any of this, they are just providing fictional entertainment for people to enjoy.  I think the people who choose to believe that 24 reflects reality need to realize how moronic their train of thought really is.