I'm pretty sure you're talking about moral relativism Grothendieck.
http://www.importanceofphilosophy.co...elativism.html
I do believe that there are some values that you cannot compromise.
Both sides can be "guilty" of moral relativism. For every dove who is called a traitor for wanting to investigate the terrorists' motives, there is a hawk who thinks it is acceptable to act immorally to win the war.
Here's a good article.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0816/p11s01-coop.html