We will leave Iraq when we are tired of kicking them around and not until then. We will ultimately leave on our terms, not because 40,000 marines got slaughtered by insurgents in the Battle of Baghdad and our armies got pushed back into the sea. The kind of methods they use does only one thing, perpetuate more of the same and prevents the stability that true power, that of the west, stems from. And yet you would call cowards those who still believe in our ways and ideals because what, it doesn’t seem manly enough for you? Gimme a break.

Also, you misunderstand the corrosive effect it has on those in power, those doing the torturing. Its breed sadism and authoritarianism. The reason we’ve collectively decided torture is bad is more than just wishy washy goody twoshoes ideals that have no underpinnings. Its bad for many reason not the least of which is its overall ineffectiveness. Take some pride in being one of the good guys and understand you’re not just a good guy because you think you are. Actions determine what we are.

Maybe he’s just telling you what you want to hear to slow you down.

Maybe he’s giving conflicting information to slow you down.

Maybe he’s been trained to withstand torture as long as needed to run out the clock.

Because–remember?–the clock is ticking.

Wouldn’t running out the clock be the best option for the tortured guy?

The question should be whether torture helps or hinders us in the long war we are now engaged in against those who attacked the country on 9/11.

To anyone with an ounce of sense the answer is obvious- it hinders.

Post 9/11 and pre the Iraq invasion the world saw our response as a just one. Those who had planned the attack on the twin towers were hiding in Afghanistan and our ultimatum to them was not only understandable, but it was the only logical next step.

At this stage, despite protests from certain quarters, the nations of the world supported America to such an extent that even our sworn enemy, Iran, was prepared to help.

Today our government has reduced our options to nil. Our military is bogged down in a war it cannot win and our true enemy is growing stronger by the day. Throughout the middle east one rallying cry is heard- America is torturing Muslims.

As Britain learned in Northern Ireland, torturing those who oppose you strengthens them and weakens you.

The Bush Administration threw away whatever chance we had of truly defeating Al Qaeda by turning away from our historical allies and embracing the tactics of our old enemies.

Obviously the idea that, somewhere, by someone, supposed enemies of America are being treated brutishly brings a certain amount of comfort to our president’s supporters, but as a strategy it is hopelessly dumb and continues to isolate us from those who might have been used to help us in the real war- the one on the terrorists who attacked us. Remember it?

Someonw being waterboarded is as likely as not to give any ‘information’ to stop the agony. He could tell you the bomg is on Park Ave, when, it fact, it’s in Chicago. The Pres. is back in front of the firing line for getting the wrong information because of wrong techniques.

I can imagine doing extraordinary things in extraordinafry circumstances, but I can’t imagive needing assurances about being protected from the consequences in order to do them. If you’re tough enough to do something, then you’ve got to be tough enough to take the consequences,-or, step aside for someone else who is.

(1) you can’t confirm that

(2) that still doesn’t make it right

“dream world”? How about the real world. There are other, more reliable ways to get information. Torture is an excuse for haters to be hateful.

Sorry, man, you won’t win this debate.

The Justice Department is a revolving door of assistant U.S. attorneys who work for a host of political appointees. Remember then the Democrats made a big deal out of the firing of political appointees and how it slowed investigations.

Now, the left is claiming that stopping the Justice Department until the next Administration is the most important thing. I guess with the era of big government run by Democrats coming back that crime levels will go back to the 1970′s level.

Since all three of the main Democratic candidates said that it position should stay open until they appoint someone, then they should come out and say who they would appoint. Ii doubt if any of them would answer. Thus, the Democratic party is selling the proverbial pig in a poke when they claim that it is best to wait until March 2008. I doubt if the future President Clinton’s nominees will face any hard questions from the last few Republicans in the U.S. Senate.

The lesson from the Nuremberg trials was about individual responsibility.
The lesson from our government is that the lesson applies only very selectively-where it says it applies.

Your concerns, which you have brought up previously, are misplaced.

The republic will not founder without a political appointment atop a department that substantially consists of independent-minded career lawyers and other functionaries who are on the job year in and year out without respect to whomever the president is and his political agenda.

The Justice Department is avowedly apolitical and a president would never try to influence its work by imposing his political agenda on it. A good example is voter fraud investigations, and a president would never meddle in such work, let alone punish U.S. attorneys and Main Justice staffers who believe in having a modicum of independence.

So you can just set that fevered mind to rest, my man. All is okey-dokey.

Is scoring political points on an issue that you gone in 18 months really that important to the left?