Obama releases Interrogation techniques secrets
courtesy of Glenn McCoy, Townhall.com
The "War on Terror" took another noseward dive when the Obama administration released Top Secret documents relating to the administration of interrogation techniques.
This is appalling news when considering the President "agonized" for over four hours before deciding to release these documents. Any prudent person in possession of his or her senses that was cognizant of the fact we are dealing with groups that want us dead, would probably take no more than one or two seconds of reflection before deciding not to release them. Transparency in government? Is that the motive? Hardly, given the fact this President has thrown up more smokescreens and stifled the press more than any administration since Nixons. Naiveté would be my guess. Dangerous trait in a President.
One of the successes when using harsh interrogation techniques is not knowing what is expected or the duration. Thanks to the release of this memo, future prisoners now know exactly what to expect and what restrictions are in place.
According to the memo, there were ten different techniques used by interrogators:
1. Attention grasp
Grasping the suspect with both hands - one hand on each side of the collar opening - in one quick motion. In the same motion, the suspect is pulled towards the interrogator.
2. Walling
The interrogators construct a flexible false wall, but do not tell the suspect it is fake. The individual is then placed with his or her heels touching the wall. The suspect is then pulled forward, and then quickly pushed back against the wall.
It is designed so that the suspects shoulder blades hit the wall. The individual's neck is supported to stop whiplash.
The suspect is allowed to rebound off the wall - which makes a loud noise. The theory is that the noise will cause the suspect to think they are being harmed, when in fact no damage is being done.
3. Facial hold
One open palm is placed on either side of the suspect's face - to keep their head immobile. The fingertips are kept away from the individual's eyes. It is designed to intimidate.
4. Insult slap
The interrogator slaps the suspect's face, with fingers slightly spread. The slap is aimed for the area between the chin and the ear. The aim of the slap is not to cause long-lasting pain, but to shock, surprise or humiliate.
5. Cramped confinement
The suspect is placed in a dark and confined space. Confinement in a larger space can last up to 18 hours, in a smaller space it is supposed to be less than two hours.
6. Wall standing
Used to induce muscle fatigue. The suspect stands about four or five feet from the wall, with his feet spread approximately to shoulder width. Arms are stretched out in front of them, with fingers resting on the wall. The fingers support all the body weight, and they are not allowed to move.
7. Stress positions
A variety of positions may be used, such as sitting on the floor with legs extended straight out in front with arms raised above the head. Again, they are designed to create the physical discomfort of muscle fatigue.
8. Sleep deprivation
Used to reduce the suspect's ability to think on their feet, create discomfort, and encourage them to cooperate. The CIA was asking for this to happen for up to 11 days.
9. Insects placed in a confinement box
The suspect is placed in a confined space with a seemingly lethal insect. They are told is it lethal, even though it is actually harmless.
10. Waterboarding
The individual is bound securely to a bench, with their feet elevated. A cloth is placed over the forehead and eyes.
Water is then poured on the cloth, and the cloth itself is lowered to cover the mouth and nose.
Air flow is then restricted for up to 40 seconds at a time; this causes an increase in carbon dioxide in the individual's blood. It is designed to simulate suffocation and panic.
I don't want to minimize the charges tossed out by various groups in sympathy with the terrorists... well, yes, I do, but while undergoing Survival, Escape, Evasion, and Resistance (SEER) training in the Army, I was subjected to worse than this. Most fraternities have worse initiations.
Fear of the unknown, uncertainty as to the duration of the ordeal, not knowing what will happen; these all play on the fears of the terrorist. This is what makes him break. The knowledge, just provided by the Obama administration, as to the duration and extent of the interrogation will enable the terrorist to endure this questioning with few problems.
Torture? Consider John McCain. From his Wikipedia entry. "In March 1968, McCain was put into solitary confinement, where he would remain for two years" and "He was subjected to rope bindings and repeated beatings every two hours, at the same time as he was suffering from dysentery" and "McCain subsequently received two to three beatings weekly because of his continued refusal to sign additional statements" with the end result his wartime injuries left McCain permanently incapable of raising his arms above his head.
For those who are truly curious check out "List of torture methods and devices" and compare it to the ten techniques listed above.
Comments