Detainee Abuse Was Well Planned

[almaty 19]

Many of the controversial interrogation tactics used against terror suspects in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo were modeled on techniques the U.S. feared that the Communists themselves might use against captured American troops during the Cold War, according to a little-noticed, highly classified Pentagon report released several days ago. Originally developed as training for elite special forces at Fort Bragg under the "Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape" program, otherwise known as SERE, tactics such as sleep deprivation, isolation, sexual humiliation, nudity, exposure to extremes of cold and stress positions were part of a carefully monitored survival training program for personnel at risk of capture by Soviet or Chinese forces, all carried out under the supervision of military psychologists.

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This troubling disclosure was made in the blandly titled report, "Review of DoD-Directed Investigations of Detainee Abuse", which for the first time sets forth the origins as well as new details of many of the abusive interrogation techniques that led to scandals at Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo and elsewhere — techniques that some critics contend the Pentagon still has not gone far enough in explicitly banning. Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the findings "deeply troubling," and signaled his intention to hold hearings later this year on the interrogation methods it describes.

The report, completed last August but only declassified and made public on May 18, suggests that the abusive techniques stemmed from a much more formal process than the Defense Department has previously acknowledged. By 2002 the Pentagon was looking for an interrogation paradigm to use on what it had designated as "unlawful combatants" captured in the "war on terror." These individuals, many taken prisoner in Afghanistan, were initially brought to the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo, although others were subsequently hidden away in CIA secret prisons or turned over to U.S.-allied governments known to practice torture. That same year, the commander of the detention facility at Guantanamo began using the abusive "counter resistance" techniques adopted from SERE on prisoners at the base, and according to the Pentagon report SERE military psychologists were on hand to help.

In response to fallout over the well-documented cases of prisoner abuse — which included prolonged isolation, sensory deprivation (visual and auditory), forced removal of clothing, exploiting prisoners phobias (notably fear of dogs), and threats against family members — the Pentagon began scaling back the use of SERE tactics in 2002 and eventually banned them altogether. The Army Field Manual, which serves as a primary guide for U.S. military interrogation, now specifically rules out the use of a variety of SERE-founded techniques including water-boarding, a form of simulated drowning, as well as the use of dogs.

But critics remain concerned that the Pentagon's clean-up has not gone far enough. In the letter to Secretary Gates, dated May 31, 2007, the non-profit Physicians for Human Rights cites an appendix of the current Army Field Manual that "explicitly permits what amounts to isolation, along with sleep and sensory deprivation." The letter, signed by retired Army General Stephen Xenakis, a psychiatrist and former senior medical commander, and Leonard Rubenstein, the organization's executive director, also points out that the current Field Manual remains "silent on a number of other SERE-based methods (including sensory overload and deprivation) creating ambiguity and doubt over their place in interrogation doctrine."

In 2006, the Pentagon issued revised guidelines reducing the role of psychiatrists as members of U.S. military interrogation teams, partly in response to critics who contend that doctors, who take an oath as caregivers, should not be involved in non-therapeutic or abusive treatment. But the Physicians for Human Rights letter says that even the Pentagon's new and revised guidelines continue to call on military psychologists to play a central part in interrogations, which the group calls "dangerous" and inappropriate. The Pentagon says it has fully investigated all abuses and taken appropriate measures to prevent any kind of recurrence.

Even assuming that Pentagon reforms have succeeded in cleaning up the worst excesses of U.S. interrogations, a number of experts have grave doubts that current policies are either workable or effective. Members of the Intelligence Science Board, many of whom serve as consultants to the Pentagon, have recently argued that U.S. interrogation policy involves a grab-bag of outmoded techniques, many dating from the 1950s, that ignore lessons learned from law enforcement and lack cultural sensitivity to Arab and other foreign prisoners. The kind of insensitivity, critics might now add, that we once assumed only our worst enemies would show their foreign prisoners.

[pedroh 21]

'but that's not torture' 'the US does not torture' blablabla BS

[almaty 19]

you are correct hermano pedroh, the usa does not torture, but is rude and a little grumpy in it's manner of interrogation....

[one...two...tree 2,762]

...U.S. interrogation policy involves a grab-bag of outmoded techniques, many dating from the 1950s, that ignore lessons learned from law enforcement and lack cultural sensitivity to Arab and other foreign prisoners. The kind of insensitivity, critics might now add, that we once assumed only our worst enemies would show their foreign prisoners.

A definite stain on humanity and the founding principals of this country.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Good. Atleast something was well planned.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Good. Atleast something was well planned.

As opposed to a few rogue soldiers getting their kicks.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

you are correct hermano pedroh, the usa does not torture, but is rude and a little grumpy in it's manner of interrogation....

Its pretty terrible that what should have been a national scandal has been relativised to death and essentially turned into a farcical debate over semantics and legal definitions. Its not "torture" if we can find things to do to people that aren't specifically covered under the accepted legal definitions of torture (clearly a case of using the letter of the law to undermine the spirit of the law), or by handing people over to foreign governments who do practice torture - but again thats not torture because "by proxy" amounts to washing your hands of legal responsibility.

[Anais Nin 0]

Many of the controversial interrogation tactics used against terror suspects in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo were modeled on techniques the U.S. feared that the Communists themselves might use against captured American troops during the Cold War,

Torture is the only thing that Amerika can get right. They have taught the U.S.-installed fascist regimes how to torture the civilian populations. Greece, Iran, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Chile, and probably every South American country, Vietnam, you name it.

However, the amerikans imcompetence at hanging one of their former allies, Saddam Hussein, only made them look even more stupid. As much as your president would've loved to see Saddam whining like a pig on the way to the gallows, instead he was composed as a stature of manliness and showed your country to be a bunch of cowards that attack the defenceless. What goes around eventually comes around to bullies.

[Anais Nin 0]

...U.S. interrogation policy involves a grab-bag of outmoded techniques, many dating from the 1950s, that ignore lessons learned from law enforcement and lack cultural sensitivity to Arab and other foreign prisoners. The kind of insensitivity, critics might now add, that we once assumed only our worst enemies would show their foreign prisoners.

A definite stain on humanity and the founding principals of this country.

Definitely on your country, a little less of a stain on humanity.

What the United States does is pure barbarism.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

...U.S. interrogation policy involves a grab-bag of outmoded techniques, many dating from the 1950s, that ignore lessons learned from law enforcement and lack cultural sensitivity to Arab and other foreign prisoners. The kind of insensitivity, critics might now add, that we once assumed only our worst enemies would show their foreign prisoners.

A definite stain on humanity and the founding principals of this country.

Definitely on your country, a little less of a stain on humanity.

What the United States does is pure barbarism.

In the last century, I'd say it's a corporate mindset that compromises our democracy.

[Ban Hammer 13,633]

Many of the controversial interrogation tactics used against terror suspects in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo were modeled on techniques the U.S. feared that the Communists themselves might use against captured American troops during the Cold War,

Torture is the only thing that Amerika can get right. They have taught the U.S.-installed fascist regimes how to torture the civilian populations. Greece, Iran, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Chile, and probably every South American country, Vietnam, you name it.

However, the amerikans imcompetence at hanging one of their former allies, Saddam Hussein, only made them look even more stupid. As much as your president would've loved to see Saddam whining like a pig on the way to the gallows, instead he was composed as a stature of manliness and showed your country to be a bunch of cowards that attack the defenceless. What goes around eventually comes around to bullies.

[slim 1,533]

So, how do you "extract" information from people without upsetting their cultural sensitivities or hurting their feelings?

Anyway, whenever they start making up phrases to refer to what they're doing, the Bull$#!T flag should go up. What the hell is an "extraordinary rendition?" That doesn't even make sense. And that's why they say it. Because if you don't understand what it is, you'll lose interest, and quickly forget abou..... hey, did you see that gas is $3.50 a gallon now?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So, how do you "extract" information from people without upsetting their cultural sensitivities or hurting their feelings?

Good question. I don't think interrogation is really that reliable or effective. Those guys in Guantanamo aren't bloody terrorists - they were handed over by tribal lords for ransom money. It's a f##king charade at the expense of humanity and our principals. And for those who say that because they aren't American citizens, the Constitution doesn't apply to them...holy ####### - All Men Are Created Equal - the 14th Amendment is born out of that premise. You either believe that we are all equal or you believe that only American citizens are equal. That to me is a jacked up notion of truth.

[pedroh 21]

So, how do you "extract" information from people without upsetting their cultural sensitivities or hurting their feelings?

Good question. I don't think interrogation is really that reliable or effective. Those guys in Guantanamo aren't bloody terrorists - they were handed over by tribal lords for ransom money. It's a f##king charade at the expense of humanity and our principals. And for those who say that because they aren't American citizens, the Constitution doesn't apply to them...holy ####### - All Men Are Created Equal - the 14th Amendment is born out of that premise. You either believe that we are all equal or you believe that only American citizens are equal. That to me is a jacked up notion of truth.

i heard from an fbi dude in a history channel program bout torture, that torture is the least effective way of extracting information, cuz they first thing they're gonna say is what you wanna hear, not the truth...

and that bold part.. true.. and sad

[JoeMama 0]

So, how do you "extract" information from people without upsetting their cultural sensitivities or hurting their feelings?

Good question. I don't think interrogation is really that reliable or effective. Those guys in Guantanamo aren't bloody terrorists - they were handed over by tribal lords for ransom money. It's a f##king charade at the expense of humanity and our principals. And for those who say that because they aren't American citizens, the Constitution doesn't apply to them...holy ####### - All Men Are Created Equal - the 14th Amendment is born out of that premise. You either believe that we are all equal or you believe that only American citizens are equal. That to me is a jacked up notion of truth.

i heard from an fbi dude in a history channel program bout torture, that torture is the least effective way of extracting information, cuz they first thing they're gonna say is what you wanna hear, not the truth...

and that bold part.. true.. and sad

They ARE NOT US citizens or residents. The Constitution is designed and meant for citizens and residents of the US. It does NOT guarantee anything for combats of war. That is where the Geneva Convention comes into play.

Edited June 2, 2007 by JoeMama