So, it looks like the United States Congress is going to approve the appointment as Attorney-General of someone who refuses to state that an “interrogation technique” used by the Spanish Inquisition and the Khmer Rouge is torture.
But the good news is that 69% of Americans think waterboarding is torture. Yay! Except that 29% don’t. And isn’t it a bit unsettling that we even need to have polls about this kind of thing?
But it’s all okay anyway, because Andrew Bolt told us over the weekend that “only three” people have been subject to waterboarding by the United States anyway. And he’s opposed to torture – but it’s only torture of four or more people that is problematic. Besides, the torture might have been useful:
I disapprove of torture, yet would also like to know exactly why this waterboarding was used on these three suspects, and what, if any, harm to civilians was thereby prevented. Just so that we know exactly all the factors at play in what has already been hyped out of all proportion to reality.
Shorter Bolt: I disapprove of torture, unless it’s used on people who might be evil to prevent evil things from happening.
Torture is wrong. The humane treatment of all people, including prisoners and suspected criminals, should be a central principle of any liberal democracy. If the United States is going to exhort other nations around the world to grant their people democracy and freedom, they need to model a fundamental commitment to human rights and the rule of law.
Still, it’s good to know that Bolt disapproves of the senseless torture of innocent people. That’s a start.
