Yesterday's New York Times reported that the CIA has been exporting "terrorists" to places that do not have explicit anti-torture laws. The newspaper documented several instances in which suspects had been transported overseas and subsequently tortured by US allies.
At the same time, Fox "24" television series routinely shows terrorism suspects being tortured by the US anti-terrorism good guys. As the practice seeps into the popular lore, we can perhaps assume that such acts are now acceptable in our so-called civilized society.
When we condemn others who resort to other forms of depravity, we now have no real moral highground to stand on. Other acts of barbarism, such as beheading hostages, differ only in manner of degree. Our condemnation of these acts of barbarism therefore amounts to little more than "the pot calling the kettle black."
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