The Torture Memos

TW: The reaction this week to AG Holder's limited investigation into Bush era torture/interrogation programs is predictable. The left says it is not enough, the right claims any investigation is too much. I suspect a year from now little will have been accomplished. Those on the left will still believe we tortured with little benefit, the right will still believe almost any actions in pursuit of security justify the means.

I stand mostly with the left for what it is worth although I empathize with our intelligence services which were frequently caught between a security at any price White House and with the knowledge that the POTUS would change and initiate less rabid protocols.

Reading the CIA IG report makes it clear either side will be able to justify their position. Which is why, when crisis strikes one should strongly prefer their side in power as whoever occupies the Executive has tremendous leeway in these matters especially amidst a crisis when the legislative branch cowers in fear.

I realize many Americans have no problem torturing others. I do. I do not think it works, it undermines "American values" such as they are, and levers open the pandora's box of torture against our citizens that much further.

Scherer from Time provides a relatively brief re-cap:
"1. The CIA IG concluded that the public had been misled about the interrogation program. While the report stops short of accusing any public official of lying, it makes clear that the public statements that the U.S. Government made about its conduct differed from what was actually happening, creating a liability for the CIA if the information ever got out...
2. The CIA IG found that the CIA used waterboarding in a way that had not been approved by the Justice Department...
3. The CIA IG repeatedly brought what it viewed as abuses or violations of law to the attention of Attorney General John Ashcroft and the Justice Department, without any positive result...
4. The CIA IG concluded that while high-value detainees did produce valuable intelligence, the measurement of the effectiveness of harsh interrogation techniques “is a more subjective process and not without some concern...”
5. The initial harsh interrogation program, begun in 2002, was poorly managed, some interrogators were poorly trained and informed, and they used techniques that were substantially harsher than what had been approved by the White House and the Justice Department..."
http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/08/24/five-important-revelations-from-the-cia-inspector-general-report/#more-15570