Bad Guys Resort To Torture, We Should Not

You know what is supposed to separate us from the evil bad guys that want to exterminate us? We're supposed to have the higher moral ground. We're supposed to be above resorting to the use of torture and illegal means of coercion.

But, according to this article, Ex-CIA Agent: Waterboarding OK'ed at Top. We do not have the higher moral ground, we are down in the muck and mire along with the enemy that uses any and all means to try and kill us.

While I understand and can appreciate the Eye for an Eye mentality, it does nothing for our reputation around the world and diminishes our capacity to differentiate ourselves from the very people we are trying to fight.

Torture isn't acceptable, it isn't permissible in certain circumstances, the rule of law isn't an opt-in and opt-out arrangement based on the situation and need. That our leaders have seen fit to decide to fundamentally deny the nature of our country and the principles it was founded upon tells me that we're being led by traitors. Traitors to our way of life and traitors to the ideals our country is based upon.

The United States of America should not ever be resorting to the use of torture. To do so diminishes our standing and capacity to lead by example. We are becoming the world's cautionary tale and are no longer possessed of the moral authority to police the world.

As for the leaders who authorized the torture of the top Al-Queda prisoner, they should be prosecuted for traitorous behaviour. Or they should just be dropped off, buck naked, in downtown Baghdad, that'd be fine too.

Just Don't Leave the Country, Al

I hope the special prosecutor won't forget about Alberto "We Have a Right and Duty to Torture" Gonzales in the wake of his first good decision in years, the decision to jump ship and resign.

He also had district attorneys with whom his administration had a political beef with, fired. He also screwed up terrorist investigations and pretty much undermined most Americans faith in the justice system in this country.

Good riddance, just stay where we can see you, Al. I'm sure there are going to be more questions about your lack of ethics and general sliminess.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., reacted to the announcement by saying the Justice Department under Gonzales had "suffered a severe crisis of leadership that allowed our justice system to be corrupted by political influence."

Yep, that does a nice job of summing it up.

But really, I lost any respect for Alberto Gonzales when he came out strongly in defense of the US torturing terror suspects. Good guys don't stoop to the methods used by the bad guys and that's exactly what he was advocating. Dragging the US of A into slime and doing a terrible disservice to the country and our soldier's serving in his boss's ridiculous and never-ending pet war.

Good riddance. That makes four after Rove, who's going to be the next slimy little rat to jump ship?