Senate: Senior Bush Officials OKed 'Aggressive' Interrogation

[babylonsister]

Senior officials authorized ‘aggressive’ interrogation
By Roxana Tiron
Posted: 12/11/08 12:03 PM


Senior U.S. officials authorized the use of aggressive interrogation techniques resulting in the abuse of military detainees in U.S. custody, according to a report released by the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.

The authorization was not only the cause of aggressive interrogation techniques, but also conveyed the message that it was OK to mistreat and degrade detainees in U.S. custody, according to the report released by panel Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and ranking member John McCain (R-Ariz.).

The panel’s investigation focused mainly on the influence of Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE) training techniques on the interrogation of detainees in U.S. custody.

SERE training is designed to teach soldiers how to resist interrogation by enemies who refuse to follow the Geneva Conventions and international law. During SERE training, U.S. troops are exposed to harsh techniques such as stress positions, forced nudity, use of fear, sleep deprivation and, until recently, the waterboard, according to a release issued by the committee. The SERE techniques were never intended to be used against detainees in U.S. custody.

The committee’s investigation found that senior officials in the U.S. government decided to use some of these harsh techniques against detainees based on flawed interpretations of U.S. and international law, according to the release.

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/senior-officials-authorized-aggressive-interrogation-2008-12-11.html

[bdamomma]

1. we already knew this didn't we?

[babylonsister]

2. Official armed services report was released today confirming this. nt

[bdamomma]

3. yes, sister but we already knew that bush officials

had planned to do harsh interrogation and was planned in the WH by Cheney, Rice and others.

[babylonsister]

4. But now the Armed Services Committee is admitting it. That's different. nt