[BOBTHENAILER]

But does that mean that torture can sometimes be justified to extract information?

YES

[SomeReasonableDude]

Only in extreme circumstances. Once we start using torture as a routine intelligence collection tool, we can never go back. Imminent attack? Immediate threat? Won’t talk? That’s when we’d HAVE to reserve torture as an option.

Asking if torture is acceptable is missing the point. HUMINT is gathered with surveillance and infiltration, not gator clips to the balls. That’s where the focus needs to be and where improvements need to be made.

Torture is a red-herring.