On Torture (Or Enhanced Interrogation for the Deluded)

I cannot believe that people are still defending torture. I'm no lefty but isn't it self-evident that the United States, a civilized nation, should follow the rule of law and not torture. But don't look to me for my opinion on this issue. Consider that George Washington recoiled at the idea. Abraham Lincoln fired an advisor for suggesting it. This is America! Of course we don't torture. And this effort propagandistic right wing effort to redefine torture is such crap. Here's a good rule of thumb. If the brutal evil despots in Cambodia did it, then it's not something we want to emulate. We even prosecuted the Japanese after World War II for waterboarding our soldiers. And now we find out we were doing the exact same in the past few years. I'm sorry for my lack of subtlety or finesse, but this is such bullshit.

But even if you don't buy the silly little notion that the United States, beacon of freedom and auspice of the rule of law, should not torture, consider this: the military does not torture. That's right. The military does not torture. The Navy Seals, the Marines, the fighter pilots, none, NONE of them torture. These are folks who are on the frontlines in the war against terrorists, extremists and other wackos. By Dick Cheney's logic, the military that is going mano a mano with these most dangerous factions should definitely be given the license to torture. But they don't. Because they know better. They know someone whose head is being dunked in water will say almost anything to get out of it. It is unreliable. They know it hurts the US's image as a principled nation. That as we fight rogue elements, it would be hypocritical for us to display rogue tendencies ourself. They know it debases their mission as representatives of the US. And God bless them for it. Now if only the CIA had shown an inkling for our military's courage to defend not just our security but our principles as a nation.