United States Senate Report on CIA Torture Program

Jan 5, 2015:

Dianne Feinstein, the outgoing chairman of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee who last month released the report on the CIA torture program, sent a letter to President Obama suggesting policy and legislative changes to make sure the U.S. does not engage in future unlawful interrogations of prisoners.

On January 22, 2009, President Obama issued Executive Order 13491 Ensuring Lawful Interrogations

Dec 12, 2014:

On Tuesday of this week a U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee chaired by California Senator Dianne Feinstein released an in-depth report on the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) torture program and the "enhanced interrogation techniques" employed during the Bush administration after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City.

The report, entitled "Committee Study of the Central Intelligence Agency's Detention and Interrogation Program", is over 6,000 pages long but only the 524-page executive summary and the Republican committee member rebuttal has been declassified and released to the public.

The essence of the report is that the CIA did in fact torture terrorist suspects, that the CIA misled the White House, Congress, and the American public as to the nature of the techniques being used, and that the techniques were not that effective in obtaining useful information.

Note that in December of 1984 the United Nations, of which the United States is a member, adopted a "Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment", which states "no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment". Also note that in December of 1975 the United Nations adopted a "Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment".

Former CIA Director Michael Hayden, who directed the CIA from 2006-2009, refuted the report.

Current CIA Director John Brennan defended the CIA in a press conference.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney said "The report is full of crap".

Source:

Collinson, Stephen; Perez, Evan. (December 9, 2014). "Senate report: CIA misled public on torture". CNN. Retrieved 2014-12-12.

Mazzetti, Mark. (December 9, 2014). "Panel Faults C.I.A. Over Brutality and Deceit in Terrorism Interrogations". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-12-12.

(December 10, 1984). "Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment". United Nations. Retrieved 2014-12-12.

More:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *