what methods of interrogations are permissable in a free, democratic society where individual rights mean something, and what methods of interrogation are out of bounds? In a truly civilized society there are rules to be followed in such matters, and bounderies not to be crossed, no matter what our fears may be regarding the hidden knowledge and evil intentions of the fanatics.

The cops aren't allowed to torture suspects, even if they may possess "critical information" as you put it, so why should our intelligence services engage in torture? I would hold that even at the possible cost of lives among us, we must never, ever lower ourselves to the level of our fanatical enemies and engage in torture to more quickly obtain information. Once you find any kind of justification for that kind of interogation, it's subject to enormous abuse, and you inevitably end up with shameful abuses lke Abu Ghraib in Iraq.