Barack Obama releases Bush administration memos on approved CIA interrogation tactics

Sorry if this isthe wrong aread for this:

BARACK Obama has blown the lid on harsh CIA terror interrogations approved by ex-president George W. Bush, including the use of insects, simulated drowning and sleep deprivation.

The graphic memos offered a stunning glimpse inside the covert interrogation program introduced after the September 11 attacks in 2001, which critics say equated to torture, and Mr Obama said undermined America's moral authority.

The documents were written by Bush administration legal officials and argued that a long list of coercive techniques did not equal torture as they did not amount to the inflicting severe mental or physical pain.

Detailing methods used to question al-Qaeda terror suspects, the memos reveal the use of dietary manipulation, forced nudity, facial and abdominal slaps, and the use of confined or "stress positions" for suspects.

In one technique known as "walling", interrogators could push a suspect against a false wall, so his shoulder blades make a slamming noise and make him think the impact is greater than in reality.

More at source: www.news.com.au...

rest of article :

The memos also show interrogators asked for a ruling on whether the placing of a harmless insect in a cramped box with al-Qaeda terror suspect Abu Zubaydah equated to torture.

The technique "certainly does not cause physical pain" and therefore could not be termed as torture and should be permissible, one of the memos said.

Similarly, techniques included waterboarding or simulated drowning, walling and sleep deprivation also fell short of torture, the memos said.

Another memo details a "prototypical interrogation", which begins with a detainee stripped of his clothes, shackled, and hooded, "with the walling collar over his head and around his neck".

But despite releasing the four partially blacked-out memos detailing the tactics, Mr Obama said operatives who carried out the interrogations would not be prosecuted, saying they acted on orders and were defending their country.

"This is a time for reflection, not retribution,'' Mr Obama said.

"We have been through a dark and painful chapter in our history. But at a time of great challenges and disturbing disunity, nothing will be gained by spending our time and energy laying blame for the past.''

Human rights groups reacted with dismay to Mr Obama's decision to shield interrogators from prosecution.

"The Department of Justice appears to be offering a get-out-of-jail-free card to individuals who, by US Attorney General Eric Holder's own estimation, were involved in acts of torture," said Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International.

All i can say is "go obama!". lol. He's not perfect, but he's at least doing something.

Cherry

This topic is already being discussed here
Abuse of Power: The Bush Administration's Secret Legal Memos









[edit on 17-4-2009 by sunny_2008ny]

Ha, this must be a huge disappointment for the left.
Kinda reminds me of the LIVE Geraldo Rivera special when he opened Al Capone's vault and found nothing.

Using harmless insects on people that would much rather kill us?
I don't get it, there is a major imbalance there.

All this talk about water boarding and it was only used on 3 people?
Geez, what a waste.

Interrogation tactics is not the same as torture!