Mr. Tharoor, an inveterate charmer, in a lengthy conversation about terrorism, international politics, Indian democracy and China’s authoritarianism.

Torture has a long and sordid history, oscillating from being in favour (by the U.S., now, for example) to being persecuted (like when Allies convicted a Japanese soldier of waterboarding a U.S. civilian in 1947). But regardless of its nonsensical place in military strategy, it’s likely here to stay.