A Posthumous Endorsement of Abuse

The Wall Street Journal's editorialists, opining on the popularity of Ronald Reagan's death, say (reg. req.) that dead Ronnie gives his endorsement to torture and illegal war:

A few specific and illegal acts of prison abuse have been used by opponents of the war to tarnish the moral legitimacy of the entire effort in Iraq. Most Americans don't believe this about themselves or their military, and perhaps they recall in Mr. Reagan a leader who was willing and able to fight back and remind us of the country's worthy purposes and generosity. He was also a leader who could take on a dangerous adversary and win. There's a lesson in all of this for President Bush.

...

So maybe this is the way it should be. Most of the liberal establishment never did understand Mr. Reagan's popularity, much less explain it. As for the Gipper, we suspect he'd be amused and pleased to learn that even in death he is still being underestimated.

Well, at least he couldn't be accused of inconsistency.