The Watertown (N.Y) Daily Times, on World Food Program.

Haitian lawmakers on Saturday ousted Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis amid growing unrest over food prices in a nation marked by chronic hunger. ...

In the Philippines, retail rice prices have escalated 20 percent to 30 percent. ...

In Bangladesh, the price of rice has jumped by more than 30 percent since a cyclone hit the country last year and destroyed some 3 million tons of food crops. ...

It was against this backdrop that Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the International Monetary Fund, and Robert Zoellick, World Bank president, over the weekend issued back-to-back warnings of dire consequences from high food prices, especially in developing countries. ...

Globally, food prices have shot up 40 percent since the middle of last year. The U.N.'s World Food Program says it will fall about $500 million short of what is needed to feed 89 million people this year.

In assessing blame, it has become easy to point the finger at policies encouraging development of biofuels, which have put a demand on crops such as corn but also caused farmers to abandon less profitable food crops in favor of government-subsidized biofuels. While that may contribute to the problem, long-term drought, natural disasters, civil wars, corruption and domestic polices also play a role.

Regardless of the causes, the crisis from rising prices and resulting hunger can destabilize governments as seen in Haiti. Mr. Zoellick called on governments "to put our money where our mouth is" and provide the World Food Program with the $500 million it needs by May 1. The United States and other nations must respond.

The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News, on using torture:

... Late last week, the Associated Press -- using one of those well-placed confidential sources that Bush fears and loathes -- confirmed that administration leaders from Vice President Dick Cheney on down approved using torture in the interrogation of terror suspects after asking the Justice Department to endorse their legality. ...

Those involved in the meetings, which were held in the White House Situation Room, asked the Justice Department to legitimize the interrogation techniques they approved. The political manipulation of the department has been a recurrent theme of the Bush administration.

Justice responded by issuing at least two memos between 2002 and 2003 that said the torture was legally justified.

Both legal opinions were withdrawn later after they were exposed in the news media. Ashcroft -- a conservative icon and a key supporter of the USA Patriot Act -- was said to be troubled by the meetings.

"Why are we talking about this in the White House?" he was quoted as saying. "History will not judge us kindly."

He is absolutely right. Long after the Bush administration is history, our nation will continue to be tarnished by its record of disregard for the rule of law and human rights. ...