Should a nation regarded as the “Brightest beacon of freedom”, be involved in Rendition (outsourced torture)?

The day of 9/11, or the day after, Mayor Giuliani said New York, and the US was attacked because the US was the brightest beacon of freedom and democracy. If the US is indeed that beacon, that stalwart example of justice and fair play, isn’t rendition hypocritical? Why not keep them stateside where protection against torture was more assured? If they were not to be tortured, why all the secrecy? Gitmo was not some big secret.