Thurday's US Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on the confirmation of Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General seems to have gone well beyond its intended purpose.
In addition to vetting President Bush's nominee to the country's top law enforcement post, the discussion focused on US policy on torture.
One of those taking part in the debate was Franklin Pierce Law School Dean John Hutson.
NHPR's Correspondent Julie Donnelly reports from Washington
Before taking on the Law School post in Concord Retired Admiral John Hutson served as the Navy's Judge advocate general from 1997 to 2000.
From the first he'd heard of Alberto Gonzales' nomination as Attorney General, Hutson has been opposed to it.
And on Thursday he had a very public platform from which to express his opposition?.the Senate's Confirmation Hearings.
"government lawyers, including judge gonzales let us troops down?so many of those troops would commit serious crimes"
Gonzales is currently the president's top legal Counsel.
His critics accuse him of writing and approving memos that made it easier to carry out abuse against US detainees in Iraq, Afganistan and Guantanamo Bay.
Gonzales maintains that President Bush never approved such actions.
"I share with him the view that torture will not be tolerated?and if confirmed?"
But when asked if any US personnel could legally engage in torture, Gonzales had a hard time giving a definitive answer.
"I'd have to get back to you, I don't want to be misleading, but I think the answer is no".
At issue is whether prisoners of war from Iraq and Afghanistan should be protected by the geneva conventions - which prevent torture.
The White House has maintained that its War on Terror is different from any other war, that combatants aren't protected by the Geneva Accords.
Republican senator John Corwyn, from Texas, put the question to Dean Hutson, and the rest of the panel of legal experts.
"what if a prisoner was determined to be al queda?
hutson: there are other factors?"
Hutson and other opponents admit they won't be able to derail Gonzales's confirmation.
They hope however to to focus the country's attention on the US government's policies regarding torture and the long term ramifications. .
Hutson hopes the Gonzales hearing help spark a single independent inquiry into prisoner abuses in Iraq, Aghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.
"if we don't have a comprehensive investigation?held responsible in the end"
The full Senate is expected to confirm Alberto Gonzales as the next US Attorney General after the President's inauguration.
But the debate over this country's use of torture policy will likely take much longer to resolve.
For NHPR News, I'm Julie Donnelly in Washington.
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