The Albany Times Union's lead editorial today on the secret opinions highlights Dean Hutson's concluding observation from yesterday's New York Times article:

Denials aren't enough

So the United States doesn't torture people, does it?

Now that's a quaint thought, to use a favorite word of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who apparently approved, yes, torture.

The New York Times reported on Thursday, and in extensive detail, about how the Justice Department secretly authorized such physical and painful tactics against terrorism suspects as simulated drownings and freezing temperatures. Torture, in a word.

....

[T]he government... seemingly is ill-prepared to consider this scenario, raised by John D. Hutson, formerly the Navy's top lawyer.

"The problem is, once you've got a legal opinion that says such a technique is OK, what happens when one of our people is captured and they do it to him?" Mr. Hutson asks. "How do we protest then?"

You may read the editorial in its entireity. The Decatur (Ala.) Daily also has an editorial today quoting the Dean on this issue.