I think torture works in ticking time-bomb scenarios. When you know somebody has information you want, but won't give it to you. The reason people say "torture doesn't work" is it is very, very poor for fishing expeditions. After the third unanathesized root canal, when you ask the victim "what have you done that you'd like to tell us about", the guy will start telling you that he killed Kennedy maybe even Warren Harding, Lincoln and kidnapped the Lindburgh baby to boot.