Torture Breeds a Culture of Cruelty

I just finished watching a very informative and insightful interview with Philippe Sands (author of Torture Team) on Bill Moyers Journal. This interview is a must-see. Check out the video and transcript.

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BILL MOYERS: For a long time, it was thought that the, it went up the chain from Bagram in Afghanistan, to Abu Ghraib, and then to Guantanamo. But you're saying it started in Washington and went down?

PHILIPPE SANDS: It started with a few bad eggs. The administration has talked about a few bad eggs. I don't think the bad eggs are at the bottom. I think the bad eggs are at the top. And what they did was open a door which allowed the migration of abuse, of cruelty and torture to other parts of the world in ways that I think the United States will be struggling to contain for many years to come.

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If Philippe Sands is right (which I believe he is) then there could be some big fish in the current administration that would go down should the next administration decide (and rightly so) to do a much-needed housecleaning.

ADDENDUM: See the video of Philippe Sands' testimony before the House Judiciary Constitution, Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Sub-committee.