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Identify possible fallacies for the argument in the box below and provide your explanations for them:

Bill: Countries that harbor terrorists who want to destroy the United States must be considered enemies of the United States. Any country that does not relinquish terrorists to the American justice system is clearly on the side of the terrorists. This sort of action means that the leaders of these countries do not wish to see justice done to the terrorists and care more about hiding murderers, rapists, thieves, and anti-democrats.

Taylor: Thats exactly the kind of argument that I would expect from someone who has relatives who have worked for the CIA. But it seems to me that once you start labeling countries that disagree with America on the policy as enemies, then eventually almost all countries will be considered our enemies, and we will be left with no allies.

Bill: If thats the case, too bad. America stands for freedom, for democracy, and for truth. So it can stand against the world. Besides, the United States should be able to convince countries hostile to the United States of the error of their ways because our beliefs have a strong religious foundation.

Taylor: Do you really think most religious people are in favor of war? A Gallup poll last week found that 75 percent of highly religious people didnt think we should go to war with countries harboring terrorists.

Bill: I think thats an overestimate. How many people did they survey?

Taylor: Im not sure. But getting back to your original issue, the biggest problem with a tough stand against countries that harbor terrorists is that such a policy is not going to wipe out terrorism in the world.

Bill: Why do you keep defending the terrorists? I thought you were a patriot. Besides this is a democracy, and most Americans agree with me.

Analysis:

Issue: How tough a stand should the U.S. take against countries that dont support our policies on terrorism?

Bills Conclusion: The U.S. should take a hard-line stance against countries that do not support our policies.

Taylors conclusion:

The U.S. should not take a tough stand against countries that harbor terrorists.

Bills first reasons: (1) Countries that harbor terrorists must be considered enemies of the U.S. Such an action means that the leaders dont want to see justice done to terrorists and care more about hiding murderers, rapists, etc.

Taylors first reasons: (2) Thats what I would expect from someone with relatives working for the CIA. (3) Once you start labeling countries that disagree with U.S. policy as enemies, then eventually almost all countries will be considered our enemies.

Bills next reason: (4) America can handle that. It stands for freedom, for democracy and for truth and thus can stand against the world. (5) America should be able to convince countries hostile to it of the error of their ways because of the strong religious foundation of its beliefs.

Taylors next reason: (6) But most religious people dont think we should go to war with countries harboring terrorists.

Bills next reason: (7) Thats an overestimate. How many people did they survey?

Taylors last reason: (8) Im not sure. (9) Biggest problem with a tough stand is that its not going to wipe out terrorism.

Bills last reason: (10) How can you defend the terrorists; I thought you were a patriot. (11) This is a democracy, most Americans agree with me.

What are the fallacies in the above reasoning? As we ask the question, we want to be considering to what extent the reasons mention specific advantages or disadvantages of taking a tough stand.

Take each reason in succession and be sure to explain each reason and its fallacy.

Here's a possible explanation for Bill's first reason (1) above:

• This argument reflects several reasoning fallacies. First, there is an either-or quality to the argument; either youre for us or against us, when there may be a variety of complex reasons for why a country might harbor terrorists. The argument oversimplifies. Also, the language of murderers and rapists appeals to such strong emotions that it might distract us from more specific reasons why a country might harbor terrorists.

Hint: Out of 10 possible reasons, there should be 10 possible fallacies explained. The first reason has been done for you, so you'll need to find the other 9 fallacies and explain them.