"It was four years ago today when President Obama, on his second day in office, signed an executive order to ban torture and cruel treatment in U.S. counterterrorism operations. His swift action, hailed around the world, marked a decisive break from the illegal, misguided and ineffective torture policies of the past.

It is evident the decision to engage in torture and cruel treatment was made by individuals who did not fully appreciate, or perhaps care about, the consequences of using torture.

Torture and cruel treatment not only violated U.S. law and international legal obligations, but undermined our national security and imperiled our leadership throughout the world".

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/opinion/who-says-you-can-kill-americans-mr-president.html?emc=eta1&_r=0