The dilemma faced by CTU and the President of the United States – whether they should prevent the gas attack on the mall or allow the attack and track the terrorists to their hideout in order to find the rest of the nerve gas – may have seemed far fetched, as unlikely a scenario that was ever used in the 5 year history of the show.
Think again. The fact is, President Roosevelt and George Marshall had to make literally dozens of such decisions during World War II thanks to the extraordinary work of American signals intelligence in cracking the Japanese Imperial Navy’s JN-25 staff code. But there was a cost to breaking the code and gleaning Japanese intentions in the Pacific; if the Japanese got even a hint that we were reading their traffic, they would change the code and we would be in the dark again. Hence, while we were able to plan a response to Japan’s attack on Midway Island and the Aleutians in 1942 based on the decoded intercepts, other Japanese moves that we were able to determine in advance were not countered because of the fear that the Japanese would get suspicious. In short, we would become victims of our own success and American sailors and Marines paid the price.
It must have been difficult for the brass to make those choices. But in the end, it was the right choice. Even after the Germans told the Japanese we had broken their naval code, the Imperial Navy arrogantly refused to believe it and kept the code anyway. And virtually every historian of World War II agrees that these code breaking activities shortened the war and saved lives.
Of course, the situation at the mall was a little different. Or was it? Although the potential victims at the mall were civilians, that gut wrenching conversation between Audrey and Fat Hobbit Lynn about whether to stop the gas from being released (see below) shows pretty much what kind of war we’re fighting. I daresay the 9/11 passengers on Flight 93 may have understood even though Audrey and Jack didn’t.
Yes the situation was contrived. But I would be curious to know whether or not the readers think CTU and the President made the right decision or whether you think Jack and Audrey were right?
I would bet that it breaks close to 50-50.
SUMMARY
Following the killing of Rossler by his 15 year old sex slave, Jack and CTU found themselves in quite a pickle. With Ivan the Terrorist set to call back and arrange a meeting so that Rossler could give him the chip that would allow for remote detonation of the nerve gas cannisters, it was time for Jack to think and think fast.
Actually, long time Jack fans knew what was coming before Rossler hit the floor with a satisfying thud – Jack would take the pedophile’s place. In fact, the entire show has been laced with this kind of predictability. Are the writers running out of ideas? Or do we just know Jack so well that nothing he does anymore can surprise us?
With the terrorists shopping the gas to “various sleeper cells” around the country (Holy Crap! You mean there are actually terrorists here in the US? Don’t tell the Democrats!) Fat Hobbit Lynn gives Jack the go ahead to try and pass himself off as Rossler in order to infiltrate the terrorist gang. Jack, being the manly man that he is, will need considerable assistance from the dynamic geek duo of Chloe and Fat Geek Edgar in order to make the chip switch and be convincing.
Back at the ranch, President Jellyfish has reverted to form. After what appeared to be an infusion of much needed testosterone last week from the Nutzo First Lady (who seems to have plenty to spare) he and Mike realize they can stonewall the Cummings caper rather than go through with the “limited hang out route” they were planning before Cummings rather convenient and some would say enormously helpful “suicide.”
The tin foil hats were out in full force all week at the show’s websites as there was wild speculation about Cummings. Was he murdered? His death certainly solved a lot of problems, didn’t it? Even innocent Evelyn, the First Lady’s Lady in Waiting, got in on the fun with a little speculation about foul play in Cumming’s suicide. Definitely a loose end to keep an eye on.
Of course, Cumming’s suicide also changed the political dynamic of whether or not to go public with his treason. With typical decisiveness where his own political hide is concerned, Logan okays a press statement at odds with the one he and Martha had come up with. Instead of full disclosure, there would be a cover up. Incensed, Martha threatens to go public anyway. Jellyfish boldly suggests she start with Cumming’s wife who had come to collect the body.
Jack goes to his meet with the terrorists and with Chloe’s expert assistance, switches the chip in the remote. Even though there is a tracking device in the chip itself, it was still predictable that Jack would be shanghaied and forced to go with the terrorists. Reluctantly, Jack accepts the gracious offer of a ride from the thugs and ends up at the absolutely best named terrorist target in TV history; Sunrise Hills Mall.
I bet half the towns in American have a “Sunrise Hill” mall or some variation with the words “sun” or “Hill.” Kinda creepy, no?
CTU’s dilemma begins. Take down the terrorists or not? We’ll call this exchange Audrey vs. Lynn I:
AUDREY: Lynn, we have got to stop them before they get inside.
LYNN: We move in now, Erwich will know we’re on to him and we won’t be led to the other cannisters.
AUDREY: Are you talking about letting them go through with this? Sacrificing the lives of all those people?
LYNN: I’m talking about accepting the damage of what one cannister can do vs. what the other 19 can do.
AUDREY: THIS IS INSANE!
Indeed. Fat Hobbit Lynn calls the President to get the go ahead to lay off the terrorists. And in another sickening display of wimpishness, Logan, like the squirming worm that he is, seeks to pass the buck back to CTU:
JELLYFISH: What’s your recommendation?
LYNN: Bill and I agree that the greatest good would be served if we allow them to release the single cannister of Centox nerve gas.
AUDREY: And I believe sir we have no right to sanction the deaths of innocent people. We should take our chances interrogating the men and find the location of the other cannisters.
(Pause as Jellyfish freezes like a side of beef that’s been locked in cold storage for a year)
LYNN: Mr. President, we’re running out of time. We need your decision, sir.
JELLYFISH: This is a field op. It’s up to you.
BILL: With all due respect Mr. President, it is not. We don’t have the legal authority to make this decision. Only you do.
Bleeccchhhh! * Spit * * Spit * (HT: Misha).
The clock is ticking because the terrorists have made their way into the mall, offed the security guard, and have placed the gas into the ventilation duct. All they need now is the code to punch into the remote and arm the cannister. And once Jellyfish gives his reluctant okay (threatening dire consequences if the plan doesn’t work) Fat Hobbit Lynn orders Jack to give the code to the terrorist.
We sympathize with Jack’s quandary. When he gives the terrorists the wrong code, the Fat Little Hobbit comes out in Lynn and he looks and sounds like he’s ready to do battle with the ourks. Jack is in trouble again – both with CTU and, as it turns out, the terrorists who don’t like mistakes. The remote won’t arm so they cold cock Jack and with the help of their terrorist brethren, make alternate plans to set off the cannister.
As the terrorists are fiddling with the nerve gas cannister, we are treated to another gut wrenching conversation between Audrey and Lynn (II):
AUDREY: The President is not looking at the children whose death warrants he just signed.
LYNN: Do you realize how many more people could die if they don’t lead us to the rest of the cannisters?
AUDREY: They could. That’s theoretical right now. Those children will die within minutes. Look at them! LOOK AT THE MONITOR!
BILL: Audrey! That’s enough.
AUDREY: No, it’s not. Lynn, you tell me. If you were in Jack’s shoes, would you follow through with that order, stand by, and watch as they murdered all those people?
LYNN: This is war! There are going to be casualties! If those are the orders of the President…YES!
AUDREY: I hope that’s not true – for your sake.
What she said.
As the terrorists prepare to release the gas, Ivan orders Jack’s death. Even though handcuffed to a table, Jack disarms his would be executioner and clamps his thighs around the thug’s neck, breaking it with a sickening crack. Hearing the struggle, terrorist #2 flees while Jack struggles to free himself. He’s too late. Some of the gas has escaped into the ventilation system. Cornering a plainclothes mall security man, Jack orders him to evacuate the mall and heads to the food court to either turn off the motors running the ventilation system or take advantage of the daily special at Too Wong Fu’s Sushi Palace.
Seeing that he’ll probably get lousy service at Mr. Too’s, Jack goes for the motors and turns them off. But not before several people are affected by the gas including a little girl that Jack rushes out to the mall parking lot and expertly administers the antidote. For such a tough guy, it’s apparent that Jack cares for women, children and dogs which probably makes him one of the most eligible bachelors in Los Angeles.
Terrorist #2 meanwhile finds a magic car. After breaking into what appeared to be a 1994 Chevy with electronic ignition, the terrorist is magically transported back to the 1970’s into the interior of what might be a 1974 Dodge Charger and is able to “hot wire” the car’s ignition. (Note to readers under the age of 30: This cannot be done on any car except maybe that old Chrysler Fury III sitting in your grandpa’s barn).
Tracking terrorist #2 back to the hideout, Ivan, who knew right away that CTU would be following, observes the arrival of the TAC Team and orders #2 to kill himself. (Does anyone else notice that there have been almost as many suicides this year as terrorists offed by Jack?) Ivan drives off into the afternoon sun leaving Jack, CTU, and the President in a dither as to what should be done.
BODY COUNT
Terrorists off the security guard. Jack plinks a terrorist. And the body count at the mall, according to Mike, stands at between 10 and 20. We’ll take the low number unless and until we hear differently.
JACK: 10
SHOW: 44
Make sure you leave a comment about whether you think CTU/Jellyfish was right in letting the terrorists release the gas or whether you think Audrey/Jack were right.
UPDATE
Check out this comment thread at Polipundit for some good speculation. Also, both Lori Byrd and Dave Barry agree with my analysis from last week: Faster please.
9:32 am
If I was Logan, I would be hard-pressed to OK the release of the gas in the mall. Can you imagine how pissed Teddy Kennedy would be?
First, the terrorists would probably [try to] kill Jack, and second, there was no certainty they would return to their hideout once the gas was released. (I think Lynn said he was 100% certain they would return and CTU would track them.) It appears these terrorists, like Marwan last year, are a little smarter than CTU thinks.
Of more importance, where was Kim? The teasers I read indicated she would return in last night’s episode!
9:33 am
I’m with Jack and Audrey on this one.
9:37 am
I thought the producers were channelling Churchill and his decision to let the Germans bomb Coventry lest they learn the English had broken the German codes.
As for the decision itself, I disagree. Letting the terrorists gas the mall was no guarantee that CTU would be able to capture intact the other cannisters… heck, we’ve all seen numerous times where their best laid plans fall to pieces.
And if they had interfered, there was no guarantee that they couldn’t have figured out where the other cannisters were in some other way. As an analogy, Rossler got shot, end of ability to track cannisters, right? Wrong. CTU/Jack adlibbed and got things on track. They could have done the same again.
Or put another way, now that the terrorists have taken off, does anybody really think that CTU has lost them forever and the next hours are going to be full of nothing but Americans getting gassed?
And, for anyone interested, I’m keeping a running tally of what I call 24isms
9:40 am
You know Jack took the 3rd option – let them release a little gas, kill 10-20 people, and not catch the terrorists. I think this winds up being worse than either of the other two choices being offered.
Maybe I’m just a geek, but I keep being bothered by this nerve gas that is “super” powerful, but that you can get around with a gas mask and short-sleeve shirts. Nerve gas generally gets in through the skin.
I like the Vince Foster route for Cummings.
9:54 am
My goodness. “Cummings suicide”... “Cummings wife…” “Cummings missing apostrophe…”
Are those things totally optional now? As an editor I despair.
10:15 am
Audrey and Jack were right …. because their option was the only one applicable to reality. Which is precisely how Audrey explained it.
Sacrificing some to save many might be permissible – although it is the ugliest of utilitarian arguments – but only when all the variables are definite.
In other words, there were three possibilities:
1) One cannisters kills thousands; millions saved;
2) All the cannisters release the gas; noone is saved; or
3) None of the cannisters are released – noone dies.
The problem here was the false premise. The only reason to choose number two is if it is CERTAIN - or damn near – that your only options are 1 or 2.
But Audrey nailed it: those 19 cannisters MIGHT be deployed and people MIGHT die, but if they don’t stop this one, people WILL die.
It’s a no-brainer. Jack was – of course – right. Morally and logically.
He was right for other reasons, too. First, he’s Jack Bauer for Christ’s sake: why not choose the obvious WWJBD first option? Which, as everyone should know, would be to tell the President to 1@#$!% off, capture both goofy terrorist single-handedly, execute one in a gratuitously violent manner, and then torture the second into revealing the location of the nerve gas.
If 24 was following its own rules, THATS what would have happened. Since when – ever – has Bauer not gotten the information he wanted out of someone? (Assuming he kept them away from the cyanide pills and/or angry sex slaves …)
And none of this mentions the obvious politics: you’re telling me THAT weasel of a President, who cares about politics above all else, would choose option one? Not a chance. The American public might forgive a President who tried to save everyone and failed – but a President who knowingly sacrificed thousands of women and children in order to POSSIBLY avert future attacks?
No way. Not a chance. George Bush might have the balls to make that call; not this weasel.
In the end, it all comes down to Audrew’s reasoning. Utilitarianism, serving the greater good, only makes sense when that greater good is CERTAIN. Sacrificing a few to MAYBE save the many simply makes no sense.
Especially when you’ve got Jack Bauer running the show.
10:21 am
“Noone” is saved?
What about “mid night”?
10:37 am
I am with Jack and Audrey. But my problem overall is with the terrorists finding out that Jack wasn’t Rossler. The guy knew Jack would’ve overheard his order to kill him, so would’ve assumed Jack took out the other terrorist just to save his own skin. If CTU hadn’t rushed into the building immediately, he could have escaped with at least far less suspicion that he was being followed, and with no clue that Jack had disarmed the nerve gas. The quick evacuation of the building would have been easily explained by the security guard who was on his way into the room.
10:42 am
People, this show is entertainment. It’s not reality. TV can and does the impossible. ON THE AIR ONLY
10:57 am
Ah Cato…what would I do without ya?
Be my red pen for Valentines day – please? (With or without the apostrophe…)
11:02 am
Rick,
Lynn was wrong – big time. So was CTU. Jack stops the larger attack and the terrorist with the remote device is heading back to the nest. If CTU had backed off and let the guy get there they could have detonated a few canisters and taken out the terrorists with some collateral damage.
If they were going to sacrifice Americans – best to do it taking out the terrorists as well.
AJStrata
11:06 am
Here’s my definition of irony:
Someone so breathtakingly lame that they putz around a website correcting people’s grammar – as if anyone cares – and then leaves behind a few lovely grammatical errors of their own!
Hey, Cato! Punctuation much? Might wanna check where those quotation marks go, Sparky.
Sigh … as an ironicist, I giggle.
11:07 am
Rick, what to give an editor for V-day? A card with a spelling mistake in it!
11:36 am
I have to agree with Audrey and Jack’s decision to not allow the gas to be released. It was the one certainty they had.
I think the writer’s missed a great opportunity to educate the American public. Nerve gas does penetrate the skin and is not just an inhalent. Also, nerve gas is an ugly kill. Violent convulsions which can result in one breaking their own bones and lots of frothing at the mouth, etc. People need to be shown that nerve gas is not a benign substance and people die peacefully. It is an ugly and violent death and there are people out there who have no problem letting this loose on an innocent, civilian population.
12:06 pm
Jack Bauer’s Coventry Moment
So far season five of 24 is shaping up to be one of the best ever. As we end episode seven, Russian terrorists are on the loose somewhere in Southern California with 19 canisters of weaponized nerve gas, the President is covering up the involveme …...
12:50 pm
I was almost shouting at the teevee last night. It was an unbelievably easy decision that shouldn’t have taken a committee to make. If you have the opportunity to prevent the murder of 800-900 people, you do it. The calculus is probably different if you’re certain millions more will die if you don’t allow the 800-900 to be killed, but of course nobody did, they were just playing the odds.
While I think this applies to Churchill’s (supposed) decision, too, I find it more defensible. Warn Coventry and the Germans change their code and you’re out of business. Stop the “field test” at the mall and you can still find the other 19 canisters before they’re used, particularly but not exclusively if you can take at least one of the terrorsits alive.
Yes, this is shaping up to be a great season, but we either need more Chloe, who’s receded into the background again after the first few episodes, or for Elisha Cuthbert to hurry up and get back.
1:42 pm
Audrey/Jack!
My rule of thumb: Do the opposite of whatever President Jellyfish decides.
But seriously, as Audry said, the death of the mall goers was a certainty. Victims of the other 19 canisters was only speculation.
BTW, in the previous episode, did anyone else refuse to suspend disbelief when the Attorny General granted an immunity request that included letting the criminal keep custody of an underage sex slave?
4:45 pm
When in doubt, rely on Jack and his “eyeball extractor”.
As terrifying as “nerve gas” might be, it is more frightening to imagine such dilemmas being debated by two such lilly-livered loonies as Hobbit and Jellyfish. “It’s your call” ... “No, it’s your call” ... “Jack, you CAN’T disobey a presidential order!” ... “Yessir Mr President, whatever you say Mr Commander Jellyfish In Chief … geeeez!
I’m watching Jellyfish flip flop all over my TV while reading about that idiot Algore smooching Saudi butt ….... THANK GOD FOR BROWARD COUNTY & KATHERINE HARRIS!
BobLee
4:56 pm
> But I would be curious to know whether or not the readers think CTU and the President made the right decision or whether you think Jack and Audrey were right?
Jack and Audrey. Intercepting the terrorists before they can gas the mall still allows you to interrogate them. And, with 24’s interrogation methods, there is a high chance of success.
> Hence, while we were able to plan a response to Japan’s attack on Midway Island and the Aleutians in 1942 based on the decoded intercepts, other Japanese moves that we were able to determine in advance were not countered because of the fear that the Japanese would get suspicious.
I don’t recall examples of this. From all I’ve read on WW2 Pacific War intelligence exploitation when we got usable info we used it. Great pains were usually taken to provide the enemy with a plausible alternative explanation for the surprise. But not always. The Yamamoto shootdown was done even though there was NO plausible reason for a flight of P-38s to be over Bougainville at exactly the time Yamamoto’s plane was landing.
> The tin foil hats were out in full force all week at the show’s websites as there was wild speculation about Cummings. Was he murdered?
I notice the exact same phrase was used in the Boss Terrorists last phone call with Cummings and the Under-Boss Terrorists last call with the guy who killed himself at the end of the show “You know what you have to do”. I’m going with suicide as the explanation and there’s more to the Cummings angle that what he told the President.
> Also, both Lori Byrd and Dave Barry agree with my analysis from last week: Faster please.
When last night’s show hit the 45 minute make it felt to me like only 15 minutes had elapsed. So
Ithought the pacing was excellent.5:03 pm
> Publius Said: 9:40 am
> Maybe I’m just a geek, but I keep being bothered by this nerve gas that is “super†powerful, but that you can get around with a gas mask and short-sleeve shirts. Nerve gas generally gets in through the skin.
Sarin and VX will get in through the skin only if a liquid drop is applied to the skin. Once Sarin is vaporized, all you need is a gas mask. Of course, this show features the uber-deadly SENTOX so you can make up your own rules.
5:28 pm
I have often wondered when watching war movies why the marines always go back after a single lost soldier when they know that some of the rescuing team will probably die. Strictly numerically it just doesn’t make sense. But then it hit me … that is what they signed up for. They signed up to be marines knowing that their lives were being given over for the cause of freedom; whether that be the freedom of the nation or of their fellow marines.
Herein lies the difference between the military and the citizens of the United States of America. Our constitution protects the right of its citizens for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That is what citizens of the United States are signed up for. There is a moral need for citizens to be as sacrificial as their military, but this is not an obligation. Our nation protects the right of its citizens to be non-self-sacrificing.
Here is the point. If it is a choice between persons in the military having to fight and sacrifice for freedom or a few citizens loosing their lives, the cost simply must be the sacrifice of the military. That is the foundation of our military system. It is an incredible one-way street of sacrifice. It is this absolute sacrifice that turns the hearts of the citizens to honor and uphold the military. This is what is so heroic about the WWII Veteran. So many sacrifices were made by so many.
It is wrong when evil people target the lives of anyone, civilian or military. It is wrong to be put in difficult situations such as the following:
“The fact is, President Roosevelt and George Marshall had to make literally dozens of such decisions during World War II thanks to the extraordinary work of American signals intelligence in cracking the Japanese Imperial Navy’s JN-25 staff code. But there was a cost to breaking the code and gleaning Japanese intentions in the Pacific; if the Japanese got even a hint that we were reading their traffic, they would change the code and we would be in the dark again. Hence, while we were able to plan a response to Japan’s attack on Midway Island and the Aleutians in 1942 based on the decoded intercepts, other Japanese moves that we were able to determine in advance were not countered because of the fear that the Japanese would get suspicious. In short, we would become victims of our own success and American sailors and Marines paid the price.”
The Decision @ rightwingnuthouse.com
Who is responsible for this evil conundrum? It is not President Roosevelt or any of his advisors. It is the Japanese Imperial Navy. Who has the greatest burden of guilt no matter what decision President Roosevelt made? The Japanese Imperial Navy. That said, I believe the decision is the wrong one. Again, it is the responsibility of the military to self-sacrificingly protect freedom. The emphasis is upon self-sacrifice. It is one thing to play a gambit in which one sends a contingent that has small chance of success in order to distract or divide an enemy’s forces. It is another thing entirely to use human life like fodder or bait. Would there be great consequences if Japan discovered that America had broken the code? Yes, but our military would have been up to that fight. And they would not have on their conscience that they won their lives at the cost of their fellows.
—-
After reading through this article I realize that it sounds as though I have this all figured out. I also, realize that their are holes in the ethics and logic all over it. I confess that I don’t have it figured out, but I do think that it is vitally important to discover because of the many implications for possible terror scenarios that our nation and world will likely face in future days. I invite you to help me plug the holes or even change my mind.
5:31 pm
Why go after a marine?
I have often wondered when watching war movies why the marines always go back after a single lost soldier when they know that some of the rescuing team will probably die. Strictly numerically it just doesn’t make sense. But…
8:04 pm
I trust that Jack would have been able to get the necessary
information from either of the two chechen terrorists;
a knife to the eye has a way of focusing one’s mind. The brave chechen terrorists would have been squealing like stuck pigs.
9:22 pm
My answer to your question is NO, you don’t obey the President. You never take certain casualties for too vague of a possibility of success. What if they’d let all those people die, and then not found the other canisters? A distinct possibility. Besides, Jack’s too good at torture. He could have gotten it out of the guys.
9:30 pm
Hmmmm… Penelope you make a good point. But as FH Lynn sez: We’re in a war. I agree that the possibility was rather vague. But war is hell and can be vague. Rick, your historical argument re the Japanese code almost sways me to say YES you do what the prez says.
That is, if Jack weren’t such a good torturer. Hell, he would have gotten the location of the canisters and had plenty of time to get back and snog with Audrey, catch a late matinee at the mall even.
And BTW, it’s orc.
9:31 pm
#19 Arthur:
I did a pretty superficial search for examples of decoded JN-25 intercepts not being used for fear the Japanese would get suspicious but couldn’t find any. I read in Spector’s Eagle Against the Sun about what I seem to recall were some operations at Guadacanal where we lost ships despite knowing where the Japanese were.
But the Coventry case with Churchill is probably more apt and I should have used it.
12:49 am
I agree with Jack. I admit it is not a black/white call, but I agree with those who have pointed out that you are trading hundreds of deaths against the CHANCE (far from a certainty) that you will save thousands. You had better be pretty damned sure about the thousands of deaths being a certainty before you can make that kind of a call.
Of course now, as at least one of the comments has noted, and as the previews seem to suggest, Jack can become the scapegoat. Not only did he disobey a direct order, but his action can be argued to have created the worst of all results. 10-20 people died, AND they lost the ability to track down the terrorists.
6:18 am
Rick, forgot to mention this yesterday: a valentine to a famous person that made 4th runner up in the WaPo Style Invitational conetst last Sunday:
5:50 pm
[...] As always, don’t forget this site or this site as well for all of your Jack Bauer thrills. [...]
1:19 am
This Season On 24
Am I alone in thinking that the current season of Fox’s 24 is the best yet ?
I have to believe that I’m not. I mean, look at what we’ve got so far. Jack Bauer back from the dead. A terrorist threat that seems to be knowingly playing on the weakn ….