"shame, disgrace, and ruin"

too many of us have forgotten what made america a great country in the first place and what we all once took for granted---the courts rule against torture, and it makes not a bit of difference in what our military does---all bush does is redefine the meaning of the word and go right ahead doing what it was doing----

Should any American soldier be so base and infamous as to injure any
[prisoner] ... I do most earnestly enjoin you to bring him to such severe and
exemplary punishment as the enormity of the crime may require. Should it extend
to death itself, it will not be disproportional to its guilt at such a time and
in such a cause... for by such conduct they bring shame, disgrace and ruin to
themselves and their country.

george washington, charge to the northern expeditionary force, sept. 14, 1775----that last line says it all about where we are today.