Cross-posted from Bold Faith Type
One of the most disturbing reactions to Osama Bin Laden's death last week has been the rush by torture apologists to claim the news as a "victory" for waterboarding. (See Political Correction's tracking of this Sunday's political talking-heads shows for some examples.)
As former senior military interrogator Matthew Alexander explained, such claims are patently untrue.
But even more troubling is these apologists' implication that the decision to torture should be based on its effectiveness. The reality is that torture is illegal, and a moral evil.
As the National Religious Campaign Against Torture says:
Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest ideals, hold dear ... It contradicts our nation's most cherished values. Any policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable
Of course, none of that has stopped many politicians from making torture not only acceptable, but a point of pride. At least, that's the impression viewers got watching this segment of the Fox News Republican presidential primary debate last week in which three of the five candidates (Pawlenty, Santorum and Cain) unambiguously declared their support for torture and were wildly applauded for it.
Ron Paul and Gary Johnson deserve praise for refusing to play along. Here's hoping the candidates who didn't show up to this debate have similar moral fortitude.