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Enhanced Interrogation Techniques Exposed (Sort Of)

There is a lot to chew on in the long-awaited (but heavily redacted) 2004 CIA Report on Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (EITs) used in the CIA’s counterterrorism intelligence and detention activities. The ACLU sued to get this report released. The gumshoes at The Washington Independent are doing a much better job distilling this thing, but a […]

There is a lot to chew on in the long-awaited (but heavily redacted) 2004 CIA Report on Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (EITs) used in the CIA’s counterterrorism intelligence and detention activities. The ACLU sued to get this report released.

The gumshoes at The Washington Independent are doing a much better job distilling this thing, but a few nuggets jumped out at me during a first read. First, this foreshadowing, given the AG is reportedly seeking a special prosecutor to go after interrogators:

(From page 91; redaction noted): During the course of this review, a number of Agency officers expressed unsolicited concern about the possibility of recrimination or legal action resulting from their participation in the CTC (Counterterrorist Center) Program. A number of officers expressed concern that a human rights group might pursue them for activities (redacted). Additionally, they feared that the Agency would not stand behind them if this occurred.

One officer expressed concern that one day, Agency officers will wind up on some “wanted list” to appear before the World Court or war crimes stemming from activities (redacted). Another said, ‘Ten years from now we’re going to be sorry we’re doing this … [but] it has to be done.” He expressed concern that the CTC program will be exposed in the news media and cited particular concern about the possibility of being named in a leak.” (pg 94) (the rest of this section is heavily redacted)

Then, it looks as though the age-old question of whether EITs (torture) really works is still left unanswered. Sorry Dick Cheney. After several paragraphs pointing out that detainee information has been helpful in fingering terrorists, the report comes to this conclusion:

Inasmuch as EITs have been used only since August 2002, and they have not all been used with every high value detainee, there is limited data on which to assess their individual effectiveness. (pg 89)

Bottom line?

The EITs used by the Agency under the CTC Program are inconsistent with the public policy positions that the United States has taken regarding human rights. This divergence has been a cause for concern to some Agency personnel involved with the program. (pg 91)

Meanwhile, Daphne Eviatar explores how DOJ lawyers appear to be up to their necks in this.

UPDATE: Great breakdown of the report and implications from Glenn Greenwald here.

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