Americans Find Some Tortures More Acceptable Than Others

” Most Americans think torture can be justified, but hardly anyone thinks “rectal feeding” is acceptable

  This week saw the release of a long-awaited Senate report detailing the post-9/11 CIA detention and interrogation program with a focus on the agency’s the use of torture. According to the report, interrogation procedures used on some detainees that were much harsher and less effective than previously acknowledged. Critics, including former CIA interrogators and Bush administration officials, have called the report politically motivated and inaccurate.

  When Americans are asked about suspected terrorists “who may know details about future attacks against the U.S.”, only 24% are prepared to say the use of torture is “never” justified. Nearly as many, 20%, say the use of torture is “always” justified, while the remainder say it’s either “sometimes” (28%) or only “rarely” (18%) justified – a total of…