“There is substantial evidence that it has worked and did so right up until someone thought we could get more from the murderous terrorists by giving them a kiss on the butt."
Such as? I'm seriously asking because I'm unaware of such evidence. On the contrary, most of what I have seen is the opposite, such as this recent article from the Miami Herald-
"The CIA inspector general in 2004 found no conclusive proof that waterboarding or other harsh interrogation techniques helped the Bush administration thwart any ''specific imminent attacks,'' according to recently declassified Justice Department memos."
You shouldn’t quote from reports that didn’t cover interrogation in depth and shortened their scope.
From the Office of National Intelligence:
“In the last five years, reporting from terrorist detainees has become a crucial
pillar of US counterterrorism efforts, representing the single largest source of
insight into al-Qa'ida for the US and its CT partners.
Detainees have confirmed that al-Qa'ida continues to work on operations
against the US and its CT allies; a fact underscored by the recent foiled plot in
the United Kingdom. Detainee reporting will remain a critical tool if ve and
our allies are to continue to protect ourselves against these terrorists
During initial interrogation, Abu
Zubaydah gave some information that he probably viewed as nominal. Some was
important, however, including that Khalid Shaykh Mohammad (KSM) was the 9/11
mastermind and used the moniker "Mukhlar." This identification allowed us to comb
previously collected intelligence for both names, opening up new leads to this terrorist
plotter—leads that eventually resulted in his capture.
In 2003. a senior al-Qa'ida plotter described an Ohio based truck driver who had taken operational tasking from al- Qa'ida and who the FBI identified be Tyman Fans. Fans was located and acknowledged discussing the destruction of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.
Faris ultimately pled guilty to providing material support lo ai-Qa"ida and is now
in a federal corrections facility.
Financial Institutions: KSM and other detainees provided key leads to an
elusive operative who had been tasked prior to 9111 to case financial buildings in
major cities along the East Coast. He is in the custody of a foreign state.
Other Operatives for Attacks Against the US and Its Allies. Detainees have provided
names approximately 6 individuals—many of whom we had never heard of before—
thai al-Qa'ida lias deemed suitable for Western operations. We have shared these names
broadly within the US intelligence and law enforcement communities and with key
partners overseas. Nearly half these individuals have been removed from the battlefield
by the US and its allies.
Jafar al-Tayyar was described by Abu Zubaydah who named him as one of the
most likely individuals to be used by al-Qa'ida for operations in the United States
or Europe. Other detainees added more details, helping us confirm that he is an
al-Qa'ida operative and uncover his true name. As a result, a $5 million reward
has been posted for information leading to the capture of Adnan El Shukrijumah.
who remains at large.
The West Coast Airliner Plot: In mid-2002, thanks to leads from a variety of
detainees, the US disrupted a plot by 9/11 mastermind KSM to attack targets on
the West Coast of the United States using hijacked airplanes.
The 2004 UK Urban Targets Plot: In mid-2004, the US and its
countertenor is m paaners di s ruote J a plot thai involved attacking urban targets in
the United Kingdom with explosive devices. Some of the key ¡eads to these
plotters came troni detainees.
The 2003 Karachi Plot: In the spring of 2003, the US and a partner detained key
al-Qa'ida operatives who were in the advanced stages of plotting an attack against
several targets in Karachi, Pakistan that would have killed hundreds of innocent
men, women, and children.
The Heathrow Airport Plot: In 200.1. the US and several partners—acting on
information from several detainees—disrupted a plot to attack Heathrow Airport
using hijacked commercial airliners. KSM and his network were behind the
planning for this attack.
The 2002 Arabian Gull'Shipping Pio!: In late 2002 and early 2003. the work of
the US and panner nations lo detain two senior al-Qa'ida operatives thwarted
these operatives' plot to attack ships in the Arabian Gulf.
TheStrailsof Hormuz Plot: One of the Arabian Gulf shipping plotters was also
working on a plot to attack ships transiting the Straits of Hormuz. His detention
disrupted this plot.
The Tall Buildings Plot. Working with information from detainees, the US
disrupted a plot to blow up tall buildings in the United States. KSM later
described how he had directed operatives to ensure the buildings were high
enough to prevent the people trapped above from escaping out of the windows,
thus ensuring their deaths from smoke inhalation.
Camp Lemonier Plot: In early 2004, shortly after his capture. al-Qa'ida
facilitator Gouled Hassan Dourad revealed that in mid-2003 al-Qa'ida East Africa
cell leader Abu rallia ai-Siidain sent him in from Mogadishu to Djibouti to case the
US Marine base at Camp Lemonier, as part of a plot to send suicide bombers with
a truck bomb into the base. His information—including identifying operatives
associated with the plot—helped us to enhance the security at the camp.”
LinkThese plots and more were thwarted. The information was reported even in the MSM. Read more than the alternate universe blogs.
“If we discovered that torture was more effective than conventional interrogation methods, and was effectively giving us information that directly improved national security, then it might be justifiable.”
So, dolemitejb, can I sign you up for a short course in administering waterboarding or advanced thumb screw and racking?