Now that Michael Mukasey has been confirmed as US Attorney General, public outrage over and news coverage of his stance on current US torture policy has ebbed. Still, an article I just read reminded me of the wider costs of CIA "enhanced" tortures like waterboarding and hypothermia.

At the World Bridge Championships in Shanghai, the winning US womens team held up a sign during the awards ceremony that read: "We Did Not Vote For Bush". According to the New York Times:

[Team captain] Ms. Greenberg said she decided to put up the sign in response to questions from players from other countries about American interrogation techniques, the war in Iraq and other foreign policy issues.

There was a lot of anti-Bush feeling, questioning of our Iraq policy and about torture, Ms. Greenberg said. I cant tell you it was an overwhelming amount, but there were several specific comments, and there wasnt the same warmth you usually feel at these events.

Not only doesn't torture work, but it also turns people against you. Forget about the Arab street-- even bridge tournaments are now hotbeds of anger against US torture policy.