I think what Tom is saying is that secret CIA prisons in foreign countries are...
...not the same as illegal CIA prisons in foreign countries.
I guess that as long as the secret CIA prisons adhere to the Geneva Conventions, allow the ICRC to have access to the prisoners, and waterboard only in extreme cases when nothing else works on the "utter savages," everything will be Otay.
But seriously, the other day a read a letter to the editor of The Oregonian written by a veteran. Jim Lamano of Portland writes:
Having been a World War II prisoner of war, I can say it was a frightening and bitterly humiliating experience. We did not know from day to day what the Germans had in store for us.
The torture of prisoners is reprehensible and only sinks us to the level of the terrorists. Vice President Cheney's reasoning is evil and puts our troops in danger.