I cannot accept any argument that defends torture as legitimate. However, I do believe that when a person finds themselves up close and personal with those they perceive to be evil doers, whether that be terrorists, rapists, paedophiles or whatever and that same person is tasked with stopping them it must be a temptation to overstep the mark in the belief that the ends will justify the means.
It is easy to sit back in one's armchair and say that they should have been professional enough to resist that temptation but when one is in the thick of it I suspect that things do not seem so black and white.
Were I ever in that position I hope that I would have the moral courage to resist - but I cannot be certain.

The USA has faced this sorry business even though some of the participants refuse to acknowledge their involvement. I wonder if the UK government will show the same moral fibre?