LOOK BACK TO PROSECUTE

President Obama is saying that it would accomplish nothing to prosecute U. S. officials who might be charged with torture. Instead of going back to the past, we should "move forward." This is a shockingly bad argument, and it is shocking that it has not been widely and vigorously denounced as such. Would Obama say the same of other crimes, murder or rape for example? His argument cannot be generalized without absurdity. Crimes are often, indeed almost alwaiys, prosecuted by recalling the past, uncomfortable as this might be, sometimes uncomfortable for all concerned.