Torture: A Matter of Opinion or a Question of Legality?
Assuming that all of the legal arguments that you have presented are correct, and that there is no political bias polluting the report (both of which are capable of being argued), you make a powerful case to prosecute. So stipulating the assumption, we should prosecute from a legal stand point.
However, how many American lives have been saved from the information extracted? Does that matter to you? Was the torture truly evil if the information saved your life, or more selflessly, ten thousand fellow American strangers?
I am aware that I am making the age-old argument that the end justifies the means. In 99% of the cases where this argument is used, I am on the attack, not the defense. And if there were other ways of getting this critical information, I am all for that (let’s all thank the New York Times for their treason in divulging the FISA wiretaps- if there is a hell, I hope they burn in the hottest fires, and soon).
I truly respect you, Rick, you’re consistant, and logical, and fluent, and smart. But I wonder, after Rumsfeld and Cheney are imprisoned, and all forms of discomfort are outlawed for infomation extraction, and a few years later a couple of cities are wiped out because we didn’t get the information in time- how passionate will you be in your articles excoriating the government for not being more aggressive with prisoners?
Maybe they committed a crime. If they’re tried for it, I hope I’m on the jury.
