Advisers Fault Harsh Methods in Interrogation

[cal04]

Source: SCOTT SHANE and MARK MAZZETTI

As the Bush administration completes secret new rules governing interrogations, a group of experts advising the intelligence agencies argue that the harsh techniques used since the 2001 terrorist attacks are outmoded, amateurish and unreliable.

The psychologists and other specialists, commissioned by the Intelligence Science Board, make the case that more than five years after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the Bush administration has yet to create an elite corps of interrogators trained to glean secrets from terror suspects.

While billions are spent each year to upgrade satellites and other high-tech spy machinery, the experts say, interrogation methods — possibly the most important source of information on groups like Al Qaeda — are a hodgepodge that date from the 1950s, or are modeled on old Soviet practices.

Some of the study participants argue that interrogation should be restructured using lessons from many fields, including the tricks of veteran homicide detectives, the persuasive techniques of sophisticated marketing and models from American history.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/30/washington/30interrogate.html?hp

[SharonAnn]

1. They should've known this. If they didn't know it, then they weren't qualified to

be doing it.

If they knew it and did it anyway, then they're sadistic and criminal by intent.

[Barrett808]

2. Funny that Buzzy Krongard shows up in this story.

:tinfoilhat:

[sabra]

3. k & r

[gratuitous]

4. Another disconnect

See, the "harsh techniques" (for which we should all read "torture") are not intended to glean secrets from terror suspects. The people being subjected to these techniques know less than nothing useful after having been incarcerated for more than five years, if they ever knew anything in the first place, and just weren't randomly scooped up in some mass capture.

No, the "harsh techniques" are being employed for the same reason Dr. Mengele "experimented" on his human lab subjects: Sadism, pure and simple. There isn't any other purpose than the wanton infliction of pain and distress by sadistic creeps who would shit themselves green within the first five minutes of similar handling. They have cheapened life, debased themselves, and ruined our standing in the world community of nations. And they can't stop, they won't stop.