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More on "Enhanced Interrogation"; an RT Survey (Eugenio Battaglia, Italy, 12/13/14 10:57 am)We have spent a good deal of time discussing the so-called enhanced interrogation system, which apparently began after 9/11, but are we sure about this starting date? Is EIT not a longstanding practice? For instance, David Irving in his book Nuremberg the Last Battle clearly indicates how testimonies were extorted. The kind of tortures used in the so-called "Fascist Criminal Camps" for non-cooperators in order to convince them to become cooperators are also well known, but it is not politically correct to remember them.
On a similar topic, I found an interesting poll on RT about enhanced interrogation in the USA. The questions were about the possibility of the CIA being punished:
44% no punishment.
4% yes someone will have to pay.
46% only a couple of low-ranking people will be punished.
6% no one punished, but the CIA will be completely overhauled.
One could make a lot of comments about these numbers.
JE comments: Yes, I'm not sure what to make of the RT numbers. For starters, was it a poll of US citizens? (I assume it was not of Russians.) I'm a bit confused, as an overhaul of the CIA could occur with punishments--at least of some low-level agents.
But weren't the CIA operatives merely carrying out orders? To be sure, this is not a legal excuse, as Nuremberg determined.
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"Enhanced Interrogation"; the Brennan View
(Robert Gard, USA
12/13/14 9:01 PM)
In response to Eugenio Battaglia (13 December), it is clear that harsh interrogation techniques began before EIT was authorized.
Regarding CIA Director Brennan's press conference, he also said:
"Irrespective of the role EITs might play in a detainee's provision of useful information, I believe effective, non-coercive methods are available to elicit such information; methods that do not have a counterproductive impact on our national security and on our international standing. It is for these reasons that I fully support the President's decision to prohibit the use of EITs.
"Our brutal torture program that was so damaging to our national security may possibly have provided some usable information--but maybe not."
The full Senate report examined every past claim of obtaining important intel that saved American lives, and found them to be false.
JE comments: Greetings to all from rainy Guanajuato, Mexico. "Enhanced Interrogation" has proven to be an extremely provocative topic for WAISworld. I have many comments in my inbox. I'll try to get to them all on the morrow.
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