CIA torture architect breaks silence to defend 'enhanced interrogation'

[malaise]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/18/cia-torture-architect-enhanced-interrogation
<snip>
• James Mitchell 'highly skeptical' of Senate report on CIA torture
• 'It was not illegal based on the law at the time'
• Mitchell said to have waterboarded Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
• Interview: 'I'm just a guy who got asked to do something for his country'


The psychologist regarded as the architect of the CIA's “enhanced interrogation” program has broken a seven-year silence to defend the use of torture techniques against al-Qaida terror suspects in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

In an uncompromising and wide-ranging interview with the Guardian, his first public remarks since he was linked to the program in 2007, James Mitchell was dismissive of a Senate intelligence committee report on CIA torture in which he features, and which is currently at the heart of an intense row between legislators and the agency.

The committee’s report found that the interrogation techniques devised by Mitchell, a retired air force psychologist, were far more brutal than disclosed at the time, and did not yield useful intelligence. These included waterboarding, stress positions, sleep deprivation for days at a time, confinement in a box and being slammed into walls.

But Mitchell, who was reported to have personally waterboarded accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, remains unrepentant. “The people on the ground did the best they could with the way they understood the law at the time,” he said. “You can't ask someone to put their life on the line and think and make a decision without the benefit of hindsight and then eviscerate them in the press 10 years later.”

----------------------------------
Fuck you Mitchell! Fuck you Bush! Fuck you Cheney! Fuck you Gonzales!
Fuck all war criminals. Torture is a war crime.

[Jesus Malverde]

1. Seeing as the torturers and murderers of the bush administration are not facing a court of law.

Could we expect anything less then bragging about their crimes.

[malaise]

3. Mark my word

They will pay - the times are a changing.

Thank you Mr. Snowden! Thank you Wiki-leaks! Thank you all whistle blowers!

[Jesus Malverde]

6. One can hope...

[spanone]

2. this is what occurs when criminals go unpunished. they become emboldened and proud of their crimes

you are correct, fuck them and the stain they leave on this country.

'eviscerate them in the press'? they should be eviscerated in the courts and imprisoned.

[malaise]

4. In some other cultures at least they have the decency to

commit suicide. These criminals are arrogant.

That's why the ReTHUGs must be beaten.

[nilesobek]

5. Mitchell dares to use the "following orders," excuse.

Post-war Germany was filled with "guys who* were asked to do things for their country."

[malaise]

7. Civilians who try that crap are known as accessories to crimes

Send them all to the Hague...they are beyond evil. They should not be among human beings or other animals.

[nilesobek]

9. Is the United States somehow exempt

from International treaties regarding torture, like the Geneva Convention? Japanese went to the gallows for waterboarding. Yes, let The Hague decide.

This should be pounded continually to ruin the Republican brand once and for all.

[malaise]

12. Do you remember when they said they would rewrite history

Time to throw away the keys.

Everyone most learn to say no to torture - torture is a war crime.

[nilesobek]

13. Its good to meet someone like you.

Its totally unfair in war to not give quarter. The Bush Clan did not give quarter!

[FiveGoodMen]

31. Obama endorsed that early on

He said CIA, etc, who were following orders need not fear prosecution.

[Octafish]

8. The United States hanged war criminals after World War II.

The vast majority got away to continue their evil, some from positions in the highest circles fighting the spread of godless communism.

http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB150/

[malaise]

10. I just want them all locked up for the rest of their lives

starting with the war criminal of a Dick.

[DiverDave]

39. Operation paperclip-look it up

The United States government protected people that did medical 'experiments' on prisoners.
The cia still uses the technics that Nazi psychopaths devised in WW2.
Look up nordhausen and what they did to people suspected of sabotage.
The same monsters worked at NASA.
The best interrogators in the war were the ones that befriended the prisoners.
Using kindness had far better results then torture. A tortured person just wants it
to stop, saying anything to get it to stop. They knew this, and yet continued torture ( with no usable evidence gained from it)
WHY?
I'm convinced that Abu Ghraib and the rest were staffed with psychopathic goons that got off on inflicting the pain
The interrogators were sick, their bosses were freaking monsters.

They should be tried at the Hague and convicted of crimes against humanity.

[Jefferson23]

11. They are coming out of the woodwork, freaking out over wikileaks..GOOD.

Maybe we can see one day these bastards held accountable, I will remain hopeful until
all possibilities are null and void.

K&R

[malaise]

15. Remember how long it took for Pinochet to pay

Remember when Margaret (that scumbag) Thatcher tried to protect him.

[Jefferson23]

17. If there is a hell, she rests with Pinochet.

I remain hopeful, malaise.

[Solly Mack]

14. K&R

[underpants]

16. They avoided the AG and went straight to their prescription writer Yoo who cited his own writings

from law school in order to give the predetermined opinion he was told to write

See! It WAS legal at the time!!

"The Darkside" by Jane Mayer covers this completely

[malaise]

18. I remember

We had a plethora of Fuck Yoo posts here! Gonzo must not get a pass. They are all war criminals

[underpants]

19. Actually it was Ashcroft that they were circumventing

Yeah Ashcroft - from the original crew THAT GUY comes off at the end as the least crazy

[malaise]

20. What year was Gonzo's appointment? n/t

[underpants]

21. Ashcroft '01-'05 Gonzo '05-'07 but if you ask him he will say "I don't know"

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Attorney_General

[malaise]

22. I watched those hearings

and I don't know is all I remember of Gonzo

[2banon]

29. that's right.. only three words in his vocabulary. "I don't know"

[mylye2222]

23. This guy shoud be stay silent and don't pollute the Earth with the crap comming from his dirty mouth

[rhett o rick]

34. I disagree. It's a good sign that the noose is tightening. nm

[Vincardog]

24. Could someone please explain to me how abusing people and TORTUREING them is in any way

" put(ing) their life on the line"?

Wouldn't putting your life on the line involve more risk than the remote possibility that you might be held responsible for your illegal actions?

[mylye2222]

25. Your ugly statement calls for APOLOGY OF TORTURE!!!!!

[2banon]

38. You're misunderstanding that post, I believe

The poster was calling into question the assertion by the torturer claiming to put his(the torturer's life) life "on the line" for our country.. read the excerpt in the OP ...

[malaise]

26. All I know is that torture is a war crime

and BS like I was putting my life on the line or doing this on behalf of my country don't work.

[on point]

27. Never legal always a war crime. See Nurenburg Treaty. Thx for admit guilt

Last edited Fri Apr 18, 2014, 04:51 PM - Edit history (1)

[FiveGoodMen]

32. As I posted above, Obama cancelled Nuremburg

[2banon]

28. You took the words right out of my angry heart and potty mouth.. !

Fuck you Mitchell! Fuck you Bush! Fuck you Cheney! Fuck you Gonzales!
Fuck all war criminals. Torture is a war crime.

Hear, Here!

[malaise]

30. LOL at potty mouth

[2banon]

36. that's we call it around my digs... :)

[mylye2222]

33. ALL THIS CRIMINAL FUCKING BUSH ADMINISTRATION

SOULD BE TRIED BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL PENAL COURT IN LA HAYE.

Period!

[2banon]

37. do you mean The Hague (Den Haag) ?

[rhett o rick]

35. Didnt all the low level torture bastards get pardoned? nm