I used to joke after the abuses in the Central American wars of the 1980s that CIA really stood for Cocaine Importers of America. For those among you, alive as adults during those years and possessing more memory capacity than a dust mite, you will recall the gun and drug running that financed those fearless fighters for freedom, the Contras.

Today with all of the unapologetic hyper-patriotic "Yeah, we ordered and condoned torture. It was only to keep you safe and what do you think you can do about it anyway" arrogance, hubris and sadism, the three-letter acronym of the bureau has taken on another meaning: Cruel, Inhuman Atrocities.

Yes, Virginia, we torture. The United States has made it official policy since 911. Apparently we are all good with that. Because as the good guys, we only torture the really bad guys. And this is as earthly precursors to the job that will be done to them forever when the God of the Old Testament sends them to hell for eternity. Therefore, we were only doing God's work here on earth. Kind'a comforting, don't 'cha think?

You bet, unless you are one of those agnostics about that final destination and the much hyped benevolence of government. You know the government that those prescient 18th century thinkers did their best to constrain from cruel and unusual punishment and arbitrary powers.

I know what you are thinking. These were good people trying to keep us safe in a time of war. Besides, those injured weren't Americans and they wouldn't hesitate to cut off your head.

As a brief aside, since we are so much better than these beasts, the 'Brits' were famously removing female heads as recently as that crazy old king Henry the Eighth. And let us not forget the French Revolution, but I digress.

At the very least investigations are in order. But the talking heads are already hypnotically droning on that "these things happened in the past, it is time to move on, it would be divisive."

Or, in the infamous words of Rodney King,"Why can't we all just get along?"

Because it sets bad precedence. I want precedence set that torture for whatever reason has always been and is criminal and not above or outside the laws that apply to you and me.

What are you doing about it? Have you taken the time to call you representative or senator? I thought not. Thomas Scott Nelson Moorpark