There are many things in this world that confuse me. Bad guys, for example. Are there people who are irredemably bad? And, if so, what should be done with them? Are there people that are so bad that we must hurt them? That we must hurt them in ways that are unspeakable?

I do not know. I am glad that I am not the President of the United States. I just don't think that I would allow cruelty. And, perhaps, cruelty is necessary.

Cruelty was deemed necessary to the main character in this book. He is a terrorist. An acknowledged terrorist. He believes in bombing innocent people. The Powers That Be decided that he should be punished. Cruelly. But not by the Official Powers That Be. Instead, he was kidnapped and taken off to Egypt where he could be cruelly tortured by others.