THE HERETIK on the sentencing of one of the American soldiers who sadistically tortured and ultimately murdered a young Afghan taxi driver.

DILAWAR'S TORMENTOR HAS BEEN SENTENCED [story]Justice and judgement hang in the balance of how we treat the prisoners in our charge. A taxi driver, not a terrorist, Dilawar was hung by his wrists from a ceiling for five days. With some certainty, prosecution of Diliwar's killers would hang on legal terms and defense would hang on excuses. Uncertainty of just what is and what is not allowed would be one excuse, frustration another. Dilawar suffers no uncertainty nor frustration. One certainty remains. Dilawar is dead.

Claus said the abuses were the result of frustrations during interrogations. He admitted to forcing water down the throat of a detainee known as Dilawar and twisting a hood over the man's head. Dilawar died at the detention center in 2002. No one has been charged with causing his death.[CNN]

Even as the young Afghan man was dying before them, his American jailers continued to torment him. [NY Times]

``They are my actions, and I can't ever take them back,'' Claus said. ``I am extremely sorry this has become a national issue and an international issue at that. The Army doesn't deserve ... this.'' [Guardian UK]

Dilawar doesn't deserve this either. Five for five. The tormentor Claus got five months, Dilawar will be dead for five forevers.

Dilawar died in December 2002. Left behind are his wife and young daughter, Bibi Rashida. Dilawar's daughter was 3 years old when her father was murdered.