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Read other letters about this article
'The law re: torture should provide an exception for emergencies of the kind I identified (and you have not addressed). Even the criminal law recognizes "necessity" of this kind -- self-defense, defense of others. I assume this is what the senators are alluding to and, if so, I agree with them.'
Laws may be practical to achieve any number of goals. The rub comes in controlling those responsible for justifiable/just laws. How do you insure that those with ulterior motives who would abuse laws and ignore restrictions which are placed there, so as to to prevent atrocities while they "interrogate?"
The provision inherent in the "necessity" argument permits powerful/authoritarians to make accusatory calls on anyone to achieve nefarious goals leading to inhuman consequences.
