Public Does Not Want Torture Hearings

That's what a CBS/NYT poll says:

(CBS) The recent release of detailed memos describing harsh interrogation techniques used on suspected terrorists under the Bush administration has fueled calls for a Congressional investigation.

But most Americans do not want an investigation, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll.

According to the poll, sixty-two percent of Americans do not think Congress should hold hearings to investigate the administration’s treatment of detainees. Only a third of Americans thinks Congress should investigate. That's the same proportion as thought so in February.

After digesting that info, this item from the poll becomes a lot more interesting:

These numbers do not mean the public agrees with the tactics used under the Bush administration to interrogate detainees, however. While 37 percent think waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation techniques are sometimes justified, 46 percent think these techniques are never justified.

And even more Americans - 71 percent - think the use of waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation techniques constitutes torture.

So, 71% think waterboarding and some of the other stuff was "torture", but most of them don't care. Sixty-two percent don't think there should be hearings, so you have to assume that a great many of them thought the "torture" was justified.

Interesting.

I wonder if any of these numbers will dissuade the wacky left caucus in Congress to rethink their plans for a modern inquisition? Probably not, but at least they'll go into these hearings with the knowledge that most Americans think they're wasting their time. Pelosi and company will have a difficult time pursuading those Americans that there's any real value in these hearings.