It all depends on what the meaning of "humane" is

Andrew Sullivan lampoons our next attorney general Alberto Gonzalez's rather slippery definition of "humane treatment" in today's post:

So "humane" care can also mean near-drowning, use of electric shocks, beating to a pulp, hooding and rape - as long as the victim has shelter, food, clothing and medical care. Well, scratch the clothing. We keep our prisoners naked these days. And the medical care is often needed just to keep the prisoners from dying at the hands of U.S. soldiers. Alas, that didn't stop over thirty inmates across the war-theater from expiring in suspicious circumstances. Anyway, it's just a useful defnition of "compassionate conservatism." Pummel someone's head in and then hang him from the ceiling. Just give him a sandwich later.