We Tortured. Now What?

If Obama thought the release of the torture memos would quell the controversy, he couldn’t have been more wrong. On the contrary—he’s opened debate about whether to hold those responsible accountable. Writing for CNN, Robert Zimmerman says a slow, deliberate investigation should determine who should be held responsible and whether there should be further consequences. A rush to shame those involved is not necessary: “We should establish the facts before making a decision about whether to prosecute,” Zimmerman says. Those in the Cheney camp need not be afforded a major voice in the debate, as their credibility is in shambles in the wake of the Bush fiasco. What is at stake now are “the very values that distinguish our country and defines its greatness in the eyes of the world.”