October 29, 2006 - Cheney and Torture: Do Unto Others

Vice President Cheney’s approval of “dunking a terrorist in water” is a chilling reminder of how shortsighted and amoral are some of the leading members of the Bush administration (“Cheney comment lands White House in hot water”, 10-27.)

I wonder if Mr. Cheney has really thought through the implications of his policies because history is replete with examples of leaders who, having created the machinery of state terror were later consumed by it.

And in a global war without end, even Mr. Cheney himself could conceivably be deemed an “enemy combatant” by some future President, and could face “extraordinary rendition” and its associated terrors.

I think Cheney should watch the 1966 film “A Man for All Seasons” and seriously listen to the speech screenwriter Robert Bolt put into the mouth of Sir Thomas More: “This country's planted thick with laws from coast to coast-man's laws, not God's-and if you cut them down-and you're just the man to do it-d'you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake.”

---