How much is 1 Life worth?
I read an article today that really disturbs me. A summary of the article is below:
Over the weekend U.S. forces dropped bombs on two hijacked gasoline tanker trucks, killing approximately 70 people, and I am sure injuring countless others. A New York Times reporter went to the area after warnings not to go due to Taliban control, and was captured along with his Afghani translator. British Forces “extensively planned” an extraction to take place while we were sleeping last night to rescue the reporter.
The reporter has been been rescued, but during the raid at the two owners of the house as well as a Taliban commander were killed. Also, the reporters translator and a British service member were killed in the raid.
The part that disturbs me I hope is obvious. How much is one life worth? Also, who gets to decide which life is more important? For instance, this reporter is now safe, however, there are now 5 people no longer living so that this can be the case. Is this reporters life worth 5 others? If so, who gets to decide this and why?
Please don’t get me wrong, I truly back our military forces, and in this situation it is actually a service members life that was given. My only question is, where is the justification for what took place. How is it OK to give 5 lives to save 1, especially considering he was told specifically not to go. Am I alone in this thinking?
