I'll word it like you did then...
I belive that torture didn't have any positive impact on American national security, and
know that it ruined our reputation with our allies and gave enemies another reason to attack us. Judging from most news reports that are out there, the testimony of Ali Soufan, and our presidents own words I think thisis a fair conclusion to come to. However, I'll hold my judgement for when there is more transparancy also.
I think that alternative methods of gathering intelegence other then using something that is defined as torture worked and kept us safe from attacks on our homeland for a very long time. I'm sure the intelegence was reported to the president
August 6th 2001 was done without using torture. And could have easilly been used to prevent most of everything that had happend conflict wise between 9-11-2001 and now. But, once again I'll hold my judgement for when there is more transparany and the hearings are over too.
I think if there was clear evidence for Cheany to point out that it did work, and did save lives.. He would have brought it up by now, or someone would have. But who knows, maybe someone will step up and come to the hearings who actually participated in it and tell the truth about it.
And even if the methods worked to some extent, I'd still be in disagreement with using those methods (especially waterboarding) since we know about its history and where it originated.