LEDERMAN ON WATER-BOARDING

Marty Lederman’s blog is again a must-read on the Bush administration’s support of torture. One interesting fact: a recent USA Today poll, cited by Lederman, shows very strong public opposition to torture of even known terrorists even if they might have information to prevent future terror attacks. That’s extremely reassuring – and much higher majorities oppose the use of torture in the hundreds of cases where the exact culpability or even identity of the detainees is unknown. 82 percent oppose the use of the Bush-Rice-Rumsfeld backed policy of water-boarding. Glenn Reynolds’ belief that we shouldn’t make a fuss about torture because the backlash will lead to even worse methods doesn’t seem to hold up. Thank God.