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short question about 'Men against fire' *Spoiler

posted 8 years ago by headliner17
3 replies | jump to latest

I have a short question about the episode 'Men against fire' which i really liked. At the end where the main character (Stripes?) is locked and interviewed/illuminated in the white room, why does the military needs him to approve the procedure. I mean, they are able to delete/reset his mind with the aid of 'the Mass'. They are relentless anyways, so it would be way easier just to delete his memories and keep using him as a soldier puppet.

What are your thoughts about this?

[–] vjfoogie 8 years ago

They probably have fail safes to ensure abuse won't occur. Why risk your job on covering something up when you can just put a little pressure on the person and make them consent?

[–] layoneil 8 years ago

because

1) they want to sleep at night
2) plausible deniability, if there was ever a hearing and they have to swear under oath they can say so without lying.

it's the same reasons why the US calls torture "enhanced interrogation" and why every military-age male in a strike zone is a combatant and not a civilian.

[–] denny471 8 years ago

Good question.

My guess is, the military asks your permission so the soldier is culpable should they resist the implant.

The gov't needs to be able to say, "you gave us permission to do this to you", to keep the military's hands clean and free of legal liability.