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The Inside Story of How the CIA, Pentagon, and U.S. Government Conspired to Torture

Harry Cook

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Published in Unjustifiable Means: The Inside Story Of How The CIA Pentagon And US Government Conspired To Torture

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In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, the Bush administration authorized a secret torture program that would become one of the darkest chapters in American history. The program, which was overseen by the CIA and the Pentagon, involved the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" (EITs) on suspected terrorists. These techniques, which included waterboarding, sleep deprivation, and stress positions, were designed to break down prisoners and force them to provide information.

Unjustifiable Means: The Inside Story of How the CIA, Pentagon, and US Government Conspired to Torture

by Mark Fallon

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The torture program was not only illegal, but it was also ineffective. Studies have shown that EITs do not produce reliable information and can actually lead to false confessions. In addition, the program damaged America's reputation around the world and made it more difficult to fight terrorism.

The inside story of how the torture program was authorized and carried out is a complex one. It involves a cast of characters that includes George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Alberto Gonzales, David Addington, John Yoo, Jay Bybee, James Comey, Michael Mukasey, and Patrick Fitzgerald. It is a story of hubris, secrecy, and the erosion of American values.

The Origins of the Torture Program

The origins of the torture program can be traced back to the September 11th attacks. In the aftermath of the attacks, the Bush administration was determined to prevent future terrorist attacks. This led to a number of政策 changes, including the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the passage of the Patriot Act. It also led to the authorization of the torture program.

The torture program was not authorized by Congress. Instead, it was authorized by a series of executive orders issued by President Bush. These executive orders gave the CIA and the Pentagon the authority to use EITs on suspected terrorists.

The Bush administration claimed that the torture program was necessary to prevent future terrorist attacks. However, there is no evidence to support this claim. In fact, studies have shown that EITs do not produce reliable information and can actually lead to false confessions.

The Methods of Torture

The CIA and the Pentagon used a variety of EITs on suspected terrorists. These techniques included:

Waterboarding: This technique involves pouring water over a prisoner's face and nose until they feel like they are drowning.
Sleep deprivation: This technique involves keeping a prisoner awake for days or even weeks at a time.
Stress positions: This technique involves forcing a prisoner to hold painful positions for long periods of time.
Beatings: This technique involves punching, kicking, and otherwise beating a prisoner.
Electric shock: This technique involves applying electric shocks to a prisoner's body.
Sexual abuse: This technique involves subjecting a prisoner to sexual abuse.

These techniques were designed to break down prisoners and force them to provide information. However, they were also illegal and caused serious harm to the prisoners who were subjected to them.

The Consequences of the Torture Program

The torture program had a number of negative consequences. These consequences included:

The deaths of prisoners: At least 100 prisoners died while in U.S. custody. Many of these deaths were caused by torture.
The creation of a culture of torture: The torture program created a culture of torture within the CIA and the Pentagon. This culture led to the use of torture in other settings, such as the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
The damage to America's reputation: The torture program damaged America's reputation around the world. It made it more difficult to fight terrorism and it alienated many of our allies.

The torture program was a dark chapter in American history. It was illegal, ineffective, and it damaged America's reputation around the world. The legacy of the torture program will continue to haunt the United States for years to come.

The Key Players

A number of key players were involved in the authorization and implementation of the torture program. These players included:

President George W. Bush: Bush authorized the torture program and he defended it even after it was publicly exposed.
Vice President Dick Cheney: Cheney was one of the strongest advocates for the use of torture. He claimed that torture was necessary to prevent future terrorist attacks.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld: Rumsfeld oversaw the implementation of the torture program. He authorized the use of EITs on suspected terrorists.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales: Gonzales provided legal justification for the torture program. He claimed that EITs were not torture.
White House Counsel David Addington: Addington helped to draft the executive orders that authorized the torture program.
Office of Legal Counsel Attorneys John Yoo and Jay Bybee: Yoo and Bybee wrote the legal memos that justified the use of torture.
CIA Director James Comey: Comey oversaw the implementation of the torture program at the CIA.
FBI Director Michael Mukasey: Mukasey oversaw the investigation into the torture program. He concluded that no laws had been violated.
Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald: Fitzgerald investigated the torture program and he concluded that torture had been used.

Unjustifiable Means: The Inside Story of How the CIA, Pentagon, and US Government Conspired to Torture

by Mark Fallon

4.6 out of 5