To Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

For speaking out clearly — if quietly — on detainee policy. Speaking several weeks ago at West Point, retiring Justice O’Connor allowed that the Geneva Conventions might not have been drafted with terrorists in mind, but she rightly asked, “What are soldiers supposed to do in the meantime?” It seemed to Her Honor that “we need a clear set of rules to reaffirm our values as a nation. This is crucial in the ongoing war of ideas. We have to demonstrate two things in particular. First, this country believes in protecting the basic humanity of all people, and that includes our adversaries. Second, we will not stoop to the atrocities and inhumane tactics of some of our adversaries.” We agree.