Lexington's straw man

Lexington, columnist for The Economist, offers an argument concerning interrogation of terrorist prisoners, claims conservatives make it, then conveniently refutes it.

Here's the argument.

"But it is equally idiotic to argue, as a fair few conservatives seem to, that tough-minded policies are meritorious simply because they are tough-minded."

The argument is phony. Lexington doesn't identify the conservatives who make that argument because none do.

Lexington goes on to argue that Bush interrogation policies served no purpose because they were not effective. Not even the Obama administration makes that claim, though Lexington claims there are "legions" of high-ranking commanders, military lawyers and intelligence operatives who do.

Lexington names only one: Torin Nelson, who Lexington claims is a veteran interrogator. Well, perhaps. Apparently, Nelson reached the rank of sergeant in the U.S. Army. Nelson claims to be president of The Society of Professional Human Intelligence. Nelson seems to be the Society's only member.

Lexington, finally, argues that what he claims is true actually is true because Mr. Obama was cheered "to the rafters" by CIA agents when he visited Langley on April 20. Rafters? At Langley? Where Obama spoke? Probably not.