Kristoff independent commission to look into torture

Nicholas Kristoff, of the New York Times, isn’t exactly a screaming liberal.

Photo: Fred Conrad, New York Times.

A bit surprised to read he thinks

it essential that the United States proceed with an independent commission to investigate harsh treatment and tally its costs and benefits.

Kristoff also wrote:

flag-rank officers believe that Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo constitute “the first and second identifiable causes of U.S. combat deaths in Iraq,” because they galvanized jihadis.

That indicates the U.S. use of torture was detrimental.

Though President Obama is reluctant, I think a thorough independent investigation should be made and, if the evidence supports it, those responsible should be criminally prosecuted. After all torturing people is a violation of law. One of the primary positive attributes of a government is that having and following laws. Ignoring them leads to chaos.

By the way, Mr. Kristoff twitters.

Related posts:

1. Cheney defends torture policy
2. Senator Ensign on Torture
3. Does Torture Work?
4. The Great Torture Cover-up?
5. Cheney protecting the “little guys” from torture investigation