experts say Torture 'stains US image, endangers soldiers'

[cal04]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23887823-12377,00.html

THE use by the United States of harsh interrogation methods against suspected terrorists has stained the country's image and is putting US soldiers' lives at risk, experts say.

"If we use torture when we question prisoners, we forfeit the right to demand that anyone treat our soldiers decently if they are taken prisoner," former army intelligence officer Stuart Herrington told Agence France-Presse at a forum in Washington DC on the use of torture in interrogations.

"If we engage in that kind of activity, we put our soldiers at increased risk," he said.

"Our place in the world has been eroded" by the use of torture in interrogations at "war-on-terror" prisons in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, said Ken Robinson, who served for 20 years in organisations including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and National Security Agency.

[EFerrari]

1. He was on WJ this morning.

And although he claimed to be surprised that Bush is torturing, he said it was counter productive.

[KansDem]

2. While I appreciate these comments from the experts...

I think we all knew this.