Coalition troops capture a key terrorist operative in Iraq.

The operative is involved in 75 percent of the terrorist car bombings that have killed hundreds of innocent Iraqis and U.S. troops. Getting information out of him could prevent future bombings and save lives.

With the clock ticking toward a threatened bloodbath in sync with Iraqi elections, and lives in the balance, should torturing the terrorist operative be considered an option or not - if it's the only way to get all the information out of him that's possible?

This is just a hypothetical question, but the answers could be interesting.