Speaking on Meet the Press, former Vice President Dick Cheney said that the end justifies the means that the tough interrogation methods used by the CIA in the wake of the 9/11 attack were necessary to protect the lives of Americans.

Mr. Cheney says he would not change a thing, he would do it all over again.

And most folks seem to agree with that assessment.

A new Pew poll asked, were the CIA's interrogation methods justified in the period following the September 11th terrorist attacks?

• 51% justified
• 29% not justified
• 20% don't know

Do you believe harsh interrogation methods prevented another terrorist attack?

• 56% yes
• 28% no

So the folks seem to be siding with Dick Cheney.

According to the controversial Senate Intelligence Report, at least 26 detainees were abused or wrongfully held by the USA.

The CIA says only three were waterboarded; the report implies more were.

The report also says the CIA misled Congress and President Bush, but specifics on that charge are lacking.

Methods of interrogation included sleep deprivation, ice baths, forced feeding, shackling, and slapping.

At least two detainees died while in CIA custody.

Some Americans are outraged, saying the interrogations were a gross over-reaction to the al Qaeda attack.

Many of those folks also object to drone warfare aimed at jihadists and using ground troops to attack them.

In addition, they oppose the Guantanamo Bay prison facility as well as other terrorist detention centers worldwide.

So my question is this, how exactly would you defeat the terrorists who have declared war on America?

How?

In Sydney, Australia today, a Muslim fanatic apparently killed two and injured four before police shot and killed him -- another lone wolf terror attack that we are seeing all over the world. 

So far all the wolves have been Muslims.

So again, if you are not going to use drones, tough interrogations, ground troops, or detention centers, how are you going to stop the jihadists?

The answer is, you are not going to stop them.  You are going to absorb the punishment they distribute.

Vice President Cheney was talking about life and death.  In the days and months after 9/11, America was desperately trying to learn about the enemy that attacked us and stop any further assaults on American soil.

So some harsh measures were used -- I believe justifiably -- although mistakes were made in the fog of war ... always happens.

The USA did not over-react by roughing up some jihadists.  We did over-react by invading Iraq.

The solution to the torture debate is to stop the witch hunt and pass a law that says only the president has the power to order harsh interrogations.  He or she must sign off on them.

That way one central authority can dictate the methods used in extreme circumstances.

That law should be passed as soon as possible so this madness can stop.

We need robust intelligence agencies to protect us, and if you don't understand that, you're a fool.

Also, it's important to understand that some who object to confronting the terrorists do so because they believe America brought this terror war on itself.

The far left is very consistent: it is always America's fault, therefore anything that weakens the USA's power is good.

These people drive much of the debate about torture.

The CIA controversy is similar to the anti-police movement ignited by the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.

Over the weekend, there were a few well-planned demonstrations implying that American police and prosecutors do not value the lives of black citizens.

In New York, a college professor was arrested for attacking police after two NYPD officers were injured.

The man, Eric Linsker, who teaches at the City College of New York and Baruch, has been charged with assault on a police officer and inciting a riot, among other things.

Do you think the colleges will dismiss him if he's found guilty?  Don't bet on it.

Some college officials despise the police, as do some on the street:

From the Saturday protests in New York City

GROUP OF PROTESTERS (VIDEO SHOT FROM A WINDOW): "What do we want?  Dead cops!  When do we want it?  Now!  What do we want?  Dead cops!  When do we want it?  Now!"

((EDIT))

MALE PROTESTER: "Fight back!  Fight back!  Fight back!  Fight back!"

((EDIT))

FEMALE PROTESTER: "We got one message.  Kill the killers, shoot them back, a body for a body!  Get it straight!"

In addition, the actor Samuel L. Jackson put forth a song:

SAMUEL L. JACKSON: "I can hear my neighbor crying. 'I can't breathe.'  Now I'm in the struggle and I can't leave.  Calling out the violence of the racist police.  We ain't gonna stop till people are free.  We ain't gonna stop till people are free.  Come on.  Sing it out."

Mr. Jackson is entitled to his opinion, and it would be interesting to see him defend it.

But a far more serious question is, does New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio distrust his own police department?

Some police officials are accusing de Blasio of just that, and there is even a petition whereby police officers are demanding that the mayor not attend their funerals should they be killed on the job.

Jesse Watters will have more on this intense situation later on.

Some of the anti-police demonstrators continue to shout "hands up, don't shoot" even though 15 out of the 20 witnesses testifying before the grand jury apparently did not see Michael Brown with his hands up in the surrender position.

Nevertheless, some protesters continue to put forth that scenario.

They do so because they don't like the police and want to see the justice system torn down.

Last week, Russell Simmons said on this program that blacks selling hard drugs like heroin, cocaine and meth were not committing violent crimes and should not be incarcerated.

Of course, that opinion would lead to anarchy in the streets and the virtual destruction of chaotic neighborhoods.

The anti-police coalition is an interesting mix comprised of race hustlers like Sharpton, radicals like The New Black Panther Party, white radicals like that loopy college professor whose knapsack contained three hammers and a mask, and political outliers like the Communist party and other tear-down-the-system groups.

Their numbers are not large, but they can cause trouble in the name of justice, which is the last thing these people really want.

Like the CIA, American law enforcement is there to protect the folks and generally speaking they do a damn good job while putting their lives on the line.

The police certainly make mistakes, but they do not deserve the demonization they are receiving from these protesters.

Talking Points believes a backlash is coming, and the folks who want to destroy America's defense apparatus will soon be marginalized.

Let's hope that happens soon because what we are seeing now is hazardous to the health of every American.

And that's the memo.