A reader writes:
Two quick comments on that post about the Iraq interrogator:
1) Brainpower vs brutality – that’s the point of this piece in a nutshell, as I read it. And that is also the key to understanding the last eight years of American government under Bush and the "conservatives": brutality – against our enemies, against the Constitution, against the rule of law, against the opposing political party, against internal dissent with in their own party. And what we hope we see in the next eight years is brainpower.
2) Alexander writes "But there truly is a better way to carry out interrogations — and a way to get out of this false choice between torture and terror." Although I understand his point, let’s be clear: there is no choice between torture and terror: torture is terror. Plain and simple. You either practice them both, or you don’t practice either one.
Why do Bush and the conservatives practice torture/terror/brutality? Because: the pot drips what’s in it. When the basis of your own worldview is fear, you create terror. The contrast between Bush and Barack, fear and confidence, brutality and brainpower, could not be more clear.
The Dish 