Is the use of torture ever justified in dealing with criminals and terrorists?

After reading the articles from TIME online, I feel that the use of torture is not really justified in dealing with criminals and terrorists. From the first article, the writer questions the real purpose in moving the detainees to other US base in Guantánamo Bay. He also states that there are not enough evidence to bring them to court and feels that the US government has a lot of hidden transparencies in the job of questioning detainees. They do a lot of cover up for their unknown real intentions. This will undermine the moral and real purpose of committing such acts which is to find justice for those innocent victims. The writer states that the government is using it to fulfil its desire for more power in the region and also for control.

Secondly, the writer also mentions that the use of torture is too harsh. Citing evidence from the article, the 9/11 planner Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (K.S.M.), who, according to senior intelligence officials, was told his children would be hurt if he didn't cooperate. Furthermore, some detainees really could not provide answers and yet the interrogators continued to pursue methods of harsh torture. This is unfair to the other party even though they have committed heinous crimes. Prior to this, I feel that governments should revise their way of interrogating detainees, some leeway should be granted even though the detainees were culprits. However, I stress that no leniency should be given to them when meting out the punishment. They certainly deserve their punishment for the wrong doings.

Also, in public sense, I hope they could have a better understanding of the whole picture instead of a narrow view. They could ask questions about the intentions of government organizations and pressured them into providing them with more transparencies and answers so that they know what they are supporting for is morally right.