econtalk

More on the torture backstory

There is another part of this torture story that is coming into focus with testimony of former CIA and FBI professionals who opposed these “enhanced interrogation methods” as unnecessary and ineffective not to mention against the values we cherish. It has been known that the SERE program professionals, who trained pilots and others to resist torture during capture, were very active in pushing for using these methods against terrorists and enemy combatants. Recall they trained pilots to resist these methods because the methods are used to extract not true information but false confessions. They were not experts in interrogation as were those professionals in FBI especially, but also in CIA. Why would they advocate the methods they were qualified to teach and use? Well, think about who benefits. Follow the money. Adoption of these methods would be a huge financial benefit to those trainers and practitioners. I am not inclined to see conspiracy around every corner, but this is looking like a blatant money move. Let us wait and see, but I expect this will be remembered as a big mistake that was strongly promoted by those who stood to gain the most financially from adoption of these methods. Time will tell.
Be patient in tribulation (St Paul)

posted by econtalk @ 8:18 PM