Golly Fred Hiatt

Imagine if you'd written this editorial in 2003 or 2004 instead of what you actually wrote?

Although some lessons are never learned:

The real culprits in this sordid story are those higher-ups, starting with former president George W. Bush and former vice president Richard B. Cheney, who led America down the degrading path of state-sanctioned torture and left the next administration to cope with the fallout.

But nevertheless, like Chuckles Todd, you say leave them alone.