When do the ends justify the means?

[robvalue]

Trying to construct a scenario in which I would find torture acceptable is very difficult.

To even consider it, I would need to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt that:

1) This person definitely knows something vital and time dependent regarding a life or death situation
2) This person won't give me the information any other way
3) The torture will produce accurate information

Even if I did somehow have assurances about all three of these, I still wouldn't simply say it is acceptable. Understandable, more like. But this is too contrived to be in any way realistic.