A deliberately provocative article, but I think a brilliant one. I've said before that we need to decide as a country whether we are prepared to die free or live with torture on our conscience.
There are some very deep philosophical arguments in there, but they are not immediate. In the absence of the debate outlined above, the controlling forces (government) of the day will most likely choose the pragmatic option and choose to live. Survival at all costs in the face of a willing destroyer.
Torture should be used sparingly, only where the situation demands it and reliable results can be obtained from it. But it must remain an option. I agree that in the choice between the freedom of a willing terrorist and the lives of innocent people, the wife and child may be called upon to suffer. Sadly. But if the husband/father wasn't trying to kill innocent people, we wouldn't be in the situation in the first place

personally i think it's better to due free, but i'd damn sure want some agreement first