8 MAY 2004, Page 32

Torture is wrong

From Guy Herbert Sir: Alan Dershowitz's own views (Letters, 1 May) are scarier than those attributed to him by Paul Robinson. Professor Dershowitz appears to be saying that torture is wrong, but that the state should adopt, approve and regulate it in our name because it will happen anyway.

This is perilously close to a Nietzschean view that morality is only for slaves, and that godlike judges (and law professors?) may dispose of it as they see fit. Perhaps other abuses of state power by its servants could be brought under the same system, and judges could issue individual suspensions of civil rights, unfair trial certificates, gerrymandering orders and bribe requisitions as the authorities deem necessary.

Guy Herbert

London NW1