Name the System!

Here is a little scene from one of my favorite movies, that shows why torture is an ineffectual way of extracting intelligence. I'm sure this scene needs no introduction:

Princess Leia: But Alderaan is peaceful! We have no weapons, you can't possibly...
Governor Tarkin: [impatiently] Would you prefer another target, a military target? Then name the system! I grow tired of asking this so it'll be the last time: Where is the rebel base?
Princess Leia: ...Dantooine. They're on Dantooine.
Governor Tarkin: There. See, Lord Vader, she can be reasonable. Continue with the operation; you may fire when ready.
Princess Leia: WHAT?
Governor Tarkin: You're far too trusting. Dantooine is too remote to make an effective demonstration - but don't worry; we'll deal with your rebel friends soon enough.

Under duress, Leia seemingly caves. Of course, to demonstrate the perfididy of the Empire, Tarkin breaks his promise and destroys her home planet. Tarkin, however, discovers that Leia is not such a fool.

Officer Cass: Our scout ships have reached Dantooine. They found the remains of a Rebel base, but they estimate that it has been deserted for some time. They are now conducting an extensive search of the surrounding systems.
Governor Tarkin: [refering to Leia] She lied. She lied to us.
Darth Vader: I told you she would never consciously betray the Rebellion.
Governor Tarkin: Terminate her. Immediately.

This fictional account is exactly what got the US involved in Iraq. We torture people, they give us whatever information we ask to make the torture stop. Later on, after we have committed ourselves to a failing war, do we find they their information was either outdated or an outright lie.

If George Lucas can predict how futile (and not to mention immoral) torture is as a device of "informational retrieval" (nods to Terry Gilliam's Brazil), why can't someone who is supposed to be as smart as Condie Rice see it?