The War On Terror. America’s History of Torture in War (Part 9).
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 2 (2000s)
The War On Terror. America’s History of Torture in War (Part 9).
“Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld listens to the Coalition Provisional Authority Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Justice Judge D. Campbell speak about the Abu Gharib Prison on Sept. 6, 2003, in Iraq” under public domain by Tech. Sgt. Andy Dunaway, U.S. Air Force.
The United States' War on Terror has been marred by the use of torture, enhanced interrogation, and waterboarding. These practices were used on detainees suspected of terrorist activities, with the goal of extracting information to prevent further attacks. However, the efficacy of these methods in gathering reliable information has been widely debated. Many argue that the use of torture violates international human rights laws and the Geneva Conventions, while others argue that the harsh methods were necessary to prevent further terrorist attacks.
The CIA, through its contractors, developed and implemented the torture program, which involved the use of techniques such as waterboarding, sensory deprivation, and sleep deprivation. Bruce Jessen and James Mitchell, who developed the waterboarding interrogation technique, testified at a 9/11 case hearing. They defended their actions, with one saying that he would "get up today and do it again." Meanwhile, a psychologist who devised the enhanced interrogation technique also testified at the same hearing, defending his role in the program. However, the architect of the CIA's torture program stated that it went too far.
One of the key issues that emerged was the ethical implications of the torture program. The psychologist who devised the enhanced interrogation technique testified that the program was designed to be ethical and legal. However, the waterboarding of detainees was so gruesome that even CIA officials wept, indicating that it may have gone too far. One CIA contractor even had to convince the agency to let him stop waterboarding a detainee, as he feared it would lead to death. Furthermore, the CIA used prisoners as "training props" for torture, as testified by one psychologist at the same 9/11 hearing. The architect of the program also admitted that it went too far and that some of the techniques used were not approved by the Justice Department.
The issue of accountability also emerged, with some of the stakeholders calling for a reckoning on torture. Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch criticized the use of torture, calling for the perpetrators to be held accountable. The CIA contractors who testified did not express any remorse for their actions, with one of them even stating that he would do it again. The legacy of the torture program in Guantanamo Bay has also continued to affect the detainees, some of whom have spent decades in custody, with their cases serving as a test of larger political realities at play.
Despite criticisms from human rights organizations and other groups, the CIA continued to use these techniques. An article in The Atlantic states that the torturers wanted to stop, but the CIA kept going. This resulted in detainees being subjected to brutal treatment for extended periods. An editorial in The Washington Post argues that the fate of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay needs to be a more prominent issue, highlighting the lack of attention on this topic.
“Dick Cheney begins the Oath of Office Ceremony for Donald Rumsfeld” under public domain by Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files, 1982 - 2007 Record Group 330: Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, 1921 - 2008
Many of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay remain in custody, with some having spent over two decades there. One such detainee was waterboarded at a CIA black site, as reported by Newsweek, and gave up a name in the process. However, it is not clear whether this detainee was actually involved in planning the 9/11 attacks. In a similar vein, an article in ABC News Australia questions the involvement of another detainee in the attacks.
Recently, a detainee gave a public account of the torture he endured at a CIA black site, as reported by The New York Times. He described being subjected to techniques such as waterboarding, sleep deprivation, and being forced into stress positions. Military officers have condemned these methods as a stain on America's reputation, according to an article by BBC News.
As the debate over the use of torture, enhanced interrogation, and waterboarding continues, it is important to remember the human cost of these practices. The legacy of torture in Guantanamo prison lives on for detainees, as reported by BBC News. It is time for a reckoning on torture, as argued in an article in Foreign Policy, and for the United States to acknowledge and address the harm caused by these practices.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on March 29, 2023
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Putin Is A War Criminal
Russia Is A Terrorist State:
Part 1 (1990s)
Part 2 (2000s)
Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Part 4 (2016 - 2019)
Part 5 (2020 - 2021)
Part 6: (2022+)
Sources for The War On Terror. America’s History of Torture in War (Part 9):
Architect Of CIA's Torture Program Says It Went Too Far - NPR January 22, 2020
The Torturers Wanted to Stop, but the CIA Kept Going - The Atlantic January 23, 2020
CIA Used Prisoner As 'Training Prop' For Torture, Psychologist Testifies - NPR January 23, 2020
CIA Contractor Details Torture of 9/11 Suspects - Human Rights Watch January 27, 2020
Former FBI Agent Addresses Post-Sept. 11 Torture In Newly Declassified Book - NPR September 8, 2020
'The Mauritanian' Revisits Gitmo's Enhanced Interrogation Disaster - Military.com February 12, 2021
The Legacy of America’s Post-9/11 Turn to Torture - The New York Times September 12, 2021
It’s Time for a Reckoning on Torture - Foreign Policy September 15, 2021
Afghanistan: Ex-Bagram inmates recount stories of abuse, torture - Al Jazeera September 22, 2021
Guantanamo detainee sentenced after detailing CIA torture - France 24 October 29, 2021
Military officers condemn CIA torture as a stain on America - BBC News November 1, 2021
The legacy of torture in Guantanamo prison lives on for detainees - BBC News December 3, 2021
Alex Gibney’s ‘The Forever Prisoner’ reveals CIA torture tactics - PBS NewsHour December 7, 2021