I do not propose that everyone in Guantanamo or its evil twin at Bagram is innocent. I just don't believe we should incarcerate people without trial and torture them or facilitate and profit from their torture.

I'm not an absolutist about free speech. Intellectually, I believe that most of the time it's better to let things get said, argue them, and put lies and stupidities to rest. Practically, I know that newspapers rarely issue corrections with the same prominence they give to denouncements - and Twitter, by its nature, never does.

Yes, you are under surveillance. Yes, it is odious. Yes, it should bother you. And yes, it's hard to know how to avoid it.

The Internet has the capacity to extend to us genuine choice, and that is not without risk. Real power does entail real responsibility.

Prize lists are out, and you're not on them? Nature of the world - means nothing. Prizes are a lottery.

Executive power in any nation arguably has more in common with executive power in another country than with the citizens it should serve.