This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A Rocky Mountain difference of opinion on the Senate torture report and what we do, and should, think of it:

"The report by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on the CIA's use of enhanced interrogation techniques on terror suspects has generated quite a bit of heated rhetoric from Capitol Hill, but, ironically, not much public outrage.

"A recent poll from the Pew Research Center finds that the techniques Feinstein insisted were 'in violation of U.S. law, treaty obligations, and our values' are actually supported by a majority of Americans. The poll found that 51 percent still believe these techniques were justified, while only 29 percent did not. Even with the deluge of media coverage, only 23 percent of respondents said they were following the story 'very closely,' yet those who were most interested in the story were the most likely to support the techniques by a margin of 59 to 34 percent.

"What's going on here?

"The fact is that for all the talk of torture, much of the information reviewed in this report has been available to the public for quite some time. In addition, CIA directors of both parties, including the current director appointed by President Obama, insist the report is factually inaccurate and structurally flawed. The investigation shut out all Republicans at the outset and refused to interview any witnesses. The result is a report that lacks the confidence of many in Washington and, more importantly, the American people at large. ..."

The above is another time when one is moved to wonder if a local culture supposedly dominated by a church — and, in this case, a newspaper that is owned by a church — shouldn't be the loudest call for human decency in an otherwise vengeful world.

As in:

Now that it matters most, lawmakers deny their faith — George Pyle | The Salt Lake Tribune

" ... What moved many good people to come to loathe organized religion over the centuries was its perceived tendency to tell the peasants not to clamor for fairness, democracy or a decent standard of living because God wanted things the way they were — Divine Right of Kings and all that — and that poor folks should forget about their quality of this life and concern themselves only with the next. ..."

Guess not.

The contrary view is also put forward by the pros from Denver:

"Yet another poll recently revealed the depressing fact that most Americans apparently believe the CIA's brutal treatment of suspected terrorists was necessary.

"If anything, the findings of the Washington Post-ABC poll were more striking than previous surveys, with 59 percent saying waterboarding and similar techniques are sometimes justified.

"We disagree, but won't rehash those arguments today. Rather, we'd like to hail the American public's honesty, and contrast it with the mendacity of those in power at the time of those brutal interrogations.

"You see, half of those in the poll are willing to acknowledge the CIA's methods amounted to torture; meanwhile, an earlier CBS News poll found fully 69 percent of respondents said waterboarding amounted to torture.

"By contrast, former Vice President Dick Cheney went on 'Meet the Press' after the release of the Senate Intelligence Committee's report on the CIA's interrogation methods and once again denied the U.S. had tortured anyone. ...

" ... No doubt there is a good reason for the orchestrated refusal by those responsible for torture to admit what it was. They know, even if some Americans do not, that torture is illegal and that this nation would have to rewrite its law and policies, as well as withdraw from certain international treaties, if we were officially to embrace it.

"And they know something else: that because torture was illegal when they supported it, an admission might invite prosecution."

Else-Web:

Prosecute Torturers and Their Bosses — New York Times Editorial

" ... No amount of legal pretzel logic can justify the behavior detailed in the report. Indeed, it is impossible to read it and conclude that no one can be held accountable. At the very least, Mr. Obama needs to authorize a full and independent criminal investigation. ..."

Republicans should delve into the real Obama scandal — Salt Lake Tribune Editorial

" ... If the Republicans who are about to control Congress want to do right by humanity, the Constitution and history, they will demand that the Obama administration not just admit, as the president did recently, 'We tortured some folks,' but also spare no effort in bringing to justice those who have clearly committed crimes against humanity. ..."

CIA betrayed American values — San Jose Mercury News Editorial

"The CIA betrayed American values in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. It knew torture was immoral, illegal and nearly always counterproductive as an interrogation tool. Yet acting upon the direction of then President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney — and at times breaking even their trust — the CIA violated the Geneva Conventions dramatically lowered America's standing as a nation of principle. ..."

Terror and torture, in hindsight — Chicago Tribune

" ... We're still learning about the frenzied effort to protect our citizens in those chaotic and petrifying days after the worst terrorist assault in U.S. history. We've changed what we consider permissible as a response to gather the intelligence needed to protect the nation. Though if, when, there is another attack of such horrifying magnitude, it's unlikely the U.S. response will go neatly according to plan. It will be in real time, not in hindsight."

Terrorism, torture and the CIA — Dallas Morning News Editorial

" ... Let's not lose historical perspective: Torture was employed at a time when this nation felt a desperate need to get actionable intelligence. The patriotic motives of those involved should not be questioned.

"Still, America must always be the standard-bearer for the world on the proper conduct of war and the treatment of prisoners. Our enemies, including current hostage-takers, might choose to ignore international human rights standards, but stooping to their level is never justified. If we truly are better than they are, our behavior must always reflect it."