A representative of Human Rights Watch was on Bill O’Reilly’s show tonight. The discussion had to do with using ‘torture’ to gain intelligence.

The human rights representative adamantly refused to accept that it is possible that the techniques used by the C.I.A. have been effective, eventhough credible reports are that they have thwarted at least 20 terrorist attacks. Her argument was that there is no way of knowing if the same information could have been gotten through other methods.

So what methods does she endorse, one wonders. Harsh talking. Yes, she said she would not have a problem with prisoners of war being talked to harshly in order to gain intelligence that might, probably would, save American lives.

Well, that never worked as a disciplinary measure on my kids, but maybe it will work with terrorists bent on killing us all. Sticks and stones and all that, yannow.