During the Iraq War ARI writers outdid themselves praising the virtue of torture at Guantanamo and other U.S. basese. We have analyzed some of their work in detail:

An “intrinsicist” is someone who, in evaluating an object or act, ignores the whole picture when an enlarged view would force him to change his evaluation. Consider firearms. An intrinsicist might say “Guns are evil.” – without considering what the gun is used for. Or say “Shooting someone is evil.” – without considering whom or why. The gun or the act of shooting it is evaluated out of context.

Thus the faux-Objectivists think that sometimes government institutionalized torture is good, sometimes not, it depends. ARI writers say it depends on “helping our troops” – that is, the government’s troops. If government institutionalized torture helps the troops, then it is good.

They never address the question “Does torture, in fact, help ‘our’ troops?” You have to wonder why they always evade the question. And why they ignore the larger picture – talk about intrinsicism ! – when in the long run the torture may – in fact, does – harm America and Americans, not to mention the torturers (who deserve it).