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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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6

US Readied Waterboarding as Early as 2001

Harsh tactics were readied even before suspects captured

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(Newser) – The Bush administration prepared to use waterboarding and other harsh tactics widely considered to be torture 8 months before the Justice Department approved them, and even before capturing a high-level terrorist suspect, the Washington Post reports. A Senate investigation reveals these brutal interrogation methods were approved despite warnings that they violated US and international law and produced unreliable confessions.

The report by the Senate Armed Services Committee details how the tougher interrogation methods were used not only in the CIA's network of secret prisons, but also at Guantanamo Bay and in Afghanistan and Iraq. Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat who chairs the committee, said the Bush officials who approved such tactics "bear significant responsibility for creating the legal and operational framework for the abuses."

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., head of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., head of the Senate Armed Services Committee.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)
Widening an explosive debate on torture, Barack Obama opened the possibility of prosecution for Bush-era lawyers who authorized brutal interrogation of terror suspects, including Jay Bybee, pictured.
Widening an explosive debate on torture, Barack Obama opened the possibility of prosecution for Bush-era lawyers who authorized brutal interrogation of terror suspects, including Jay Bybee, pictured.   (AP Photo, Evan Vucci, File)
John Yoo, a law professor at the University of California at Berkeley and author of so-called 'torture memos,' testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 26, 2008.
John Yoo, a law professor at the University of California at Berkeley and author of so-called 'torture memos,' testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 26, 2008.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
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We can provide the ability to exploit personnel based on how our enemies have done this type of thing over the last five decades. - Joseph Witsch, member of the US military's Joint Personnel
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6 comments
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TerrifiedCitizen
Apr 22, 09 10:58 AM CDT
Parents are told not to reprimand when they're angry... Anyway, can't you just envision a bunch of mili-jocks standing around drinking beer and daring each other to see who could leave the guy tied up chocking to death the longest? I'm not very proud of what has been passing for leaders in America of late... and I hope we've actually learned something from the revelation of these abuses. Still, there is a danger in breaking these crimes down and processing them piecemeal... ALL of the BushChen mobs crimes need to be prosecuted for America to heal and warn future leaders that criminals need not apply. Reply
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woody66
Apr 22, 09 11:19 AM CDT
The plot thickens. It appears from this latest twist that the Office of Legal Counsel advice was provided after the torturing had begun in order to provide cover for past sins. Were they fully informed co-operators or were they being duped into providing cover by the WH ? Clearly from the prosecution and execution of Japanese WWII war criminals for waterboarding, they knew heading in that the techniques were illegal, so they appear to be culpable either way of wilfully mis-interpeting the law. Reply
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SPH
Apr 22, 09 1:28 PM CDT
This is indeed a significant revelation....The Bush administration would now appear to be in an indefensible position.....I suspect this is only the beginning... Reply
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John
Apr 22, 09 3:22 PM CDT
If they don't believe that waterboarding is torture, then if these bastards are ever convicted, we should waterboard them!! Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Caps
Apr 22, 09 5:11 PM CDT
John, I agree with your comment. Waterboard them and they will soon realize that it is torture
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PDF of the full report
Senate Armed Services Committee

What the Levin report means for Bush, and Obama
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Bush administration • CIA • torture • secret prisons • Carl Levin • waterboarding • harsh interrogation • Senate Armed Services Committee

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