Some folks seem more OK with the defense of torture and torturers,

[truebluegreen]

202. As I recall from my study of the Revolution

the colonists were split fairly evenly into 3 parts: 1/3 for independence, 1/3 against and 1/3 neutral. Obviously it could have gone either way, but what we had to do to win was simply stay in the field. Washington avoided pitched battles where superior forces and training could overwhelm him, and concentrated on not losing. It was of great help to him that there were several occasions when the colonists rallied behind / joined the ranks of the American forces after actual or reported atrocities on the British side. Finally the British quit, after the disastrous siege and defeat at Yorktown.

So in a way, Washington's stance on torture, as contrasted with his opponents' (real or imagined), won the Revolutionary War. We have fallen a long way since then.

ETA: "Courage" is exactly what is lacking. I think a large part of our problems can be traced to the fact that conservatives--which in my view are by definition cowards--are ascendant. The only type of courage they do not lack is that of their convictions.