Further Stains on Our Reputation

The tribunals at Guantanamo will admit evidence obtained by torture.

Waterboarding is torture. Those in our government who are waffling on this point or who are dissembling on it are doing so because they know it is torture and they know it was used.

Permitting the introduction of evidence at the proceedings in Guantanamo means we are fully adopting the model of the Soviet system of justice: Evidence obtained by torture and the conducting of sham trials.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Hartmann will, at a future date, face the prospect of being confronted with his words and his approvals of the use of torture. Only then, he will have the lofty and august title of "the accused" or "the defendant" and the charges will have something to do with the commission of war crimes and/or crimes against humanity.