It seems very likely that President George W. Bush's willingness to impose harsh conditions on al-Qaida detainees led to critically important intelligence in locating bin Laden. I don't support water boarding — but just as I wouldn't have supported Lincoln's suspension of the writ of habeas corpus during the Civil War, neither president's actions will keep me awake at night. Each faced a unique challenge and acted within the dictates of his conscience for the ultimate good of the American people. As was demonstrated so well by President Barack Obama last week, war requires tough leadership. Which brings me to Pakistan.