It's not that Powers was obliged to kill himself. Powers had a choice, either take the suicide pill, or don't talk if you're captured. He chose option 3, h

It's not that Powers was obliged to kill himself. Powers had a choice, either take the suicide pill, or don't talk if you're captured. He chose option 3, he talked. Having to make such a choice is certainly not an enviable position to be in, but Powers never had to take this job. I certainly never would have accepted it, I think most people wouldn't.