Thanks. I've noticed your epiphany on the subject; I can almost spot the post in which it hit, in the thread below. I'm sure you'll understand when I say I'm going to record the even for posterity, because you have to admit that you're not known for changing your mind. I'm sure you'd agree, seeing as how you felt the need to commemorate the event with the post that started this thread.

What I wrote is perhaps the clearest expression of my position. It's all along been the institutionalization of torture to which I objected--downgrading it from extraordinary to ordinary. The "ticking bomb" scenario is an extraordinary one, and I've never seen how it requires legal cover. Somebody faced with such a situation should do what's necessary and do the legal paperwork later. The law is about ordinary circumstances and allows for the extraordinary by recognizing mitigating and exculpatory circumstances and a defense of "dire circumstances". I'd just as soon keep the use of torture an abberration, thank you very much.