Jeff, I obviously agree with at least part of what you wrote, but this is too much:
One would think that the self-professed leaders of the fight to save the unborn would have at least some regard for innocent adult life, as well, and would give the moral hand-wringing a rest long enough to actually think about what they are arguing for.
In true liberal fashion (see “Silent Spring” for example, among others), is Mr. Carter content to allow innocents elsewhere (let alone at home) to die needlessly, as long as he can sleep at night knowing that, whatever may happen to others as a result of the decision not to engage in actual information-gathering, the U.S. is shortsightedly keeping its moral slate clean by refusing to allow anybody to do anything that he might, with no regard for context, feel the slightest bit of compunction about.
That's not remotely fair to Joe -- he's not arguing about salving his own conscience, he's talking about doing something that he perceives as genuine involvement with capital-E Evil.
I also add that using "true liberal fashion" as an insult is belied by sentences like One would think that the self-professed leaders of the fight to save the unborn would have at least some regard for innocent adult life, as well. If that's not a classic liberal hogwash, nothing is.
Like I said, I'm largely on your side of this debate, especially with regard to waterboarding; but this is so rough, it's genuinely unlike you.