How to Make Terrorists Talk

How to Make Terrorists Talk - Yahoo! News

The most successful interrogation of an Al-Qaeda operative by U.S. officials required no sleep deprivation, no slapping or "walling" and no waterboarding. All it took to soften up Abu Jandal, who had been closer to Osama bin Laden than any other terrorist ever captured, was a handful of sugar-free cookies.

Abu Jandal had been in a Yemeni prison for nearly a year when Ali Soufan of the FBI and Robert McFadden of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service arrived to interrogate him in the week after 9/11. Although there was already evidence that al-Qaeda was behind the attacks, American authorities needed conclusive proof, not least to satisfy skeptics like Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, whose support was essential for any action against the terrorist organization. U.S. intelligence agencies also needed a better understanding of al-Qaeda's structure and leadership. Abu Jandal was the perfect source: the Yemeni who grew up in Saudi Arabia had been bin Laden's chief bodyguard, trusted not only to protect him but also to put a bullet in his head rather than let him be captured. (See pictures of do-it-yourself waterboarding attempts.)

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I found this article to be a reasonable commentary on interrogation. It's a bit on the long side, but it's worth a read as it endeavors to capture both sides of the argument.

In particular, I was very impressed by Maddox and Alexander's ability to elicit information by understanding their quarry (see latter portion of the article). We are fortunate to have such skilled and persuasive patriots working on our behalf.

I do wonder, though, what the best tack is when time is against us. The article mentions that this doesn't happen often - but what about when it does, and tens, hundreds, or even thousands of people may die if we don't obtain the information we need? I think proponents of utilizing torture have a point when they say it only takes one time when we don't have the information we need for disaster to strike. It's abhorrent under normal circumstances, but I can't say with certainty that, were I an interrogator, I could confidently claim that there is NEVER a time when it's necessary.

I'll admit that I'm glad I'm not the one who has to make those kinds of decisions.

Different strokes for different folks.

Some techniques will work better on some subjects better than other techniques will work on others.

Offer them a lifetime supply of pringles products.



Obama Threatens Britain Over Torture Memo Release

Greenwald sums up the message:

"In other words: if you let your courts describe how we tortured Mohamed -- even if your laws compel such disclosure -- we may purposely leave your citizens vulnerable to future terrorist attacks by withholding information we obtain about terrorist plots...
Independently, Article 9 of the Convention Against Torture requires that "States Parties shall afford one another the greatest measure of assistance in connection with civil proceedings brought in respect of any of the offences referred to in article 4, including the supply of all evidence at their disposal necessary for the proceedings." If the U.S. were a country that adhered to its treaty obligations -- rather than systematically ignored them whenever the mood struck -- that, too, would be significant.

The principal issue here is that the Obama administration is not merely failing to investigate (let alone prosecute) acts of high-level criminality by U.S. government officials. Far worse, ever since he was inaugurated, Obama has engaged in one extraordinary legal maneuver after the next to block American courts from ruling on the legality of those actions. He has now extended his Bush-protecting conduct to the international realm, as he re-iterates Bush's threats that we will purposely leave British citizens more vulnerable to terrorist attacks if their courts rule that, under their laws, their citizens are entitled to know what was done to Binyam Mohamed. "



Obama knows how to make em talk...

If Obama does not do something very definitive and very positive about stopping torture he will lose my support. Not that this mean a whole hill of beans but my vote is my only weapon in this fight.

Lerxst said:

If Obama does not do something very definitive and very positive about stopping torture he will lose my support. Not that this mean a whole hill of beans but my vote is my only weapon in this fight.

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I'm curious, what measures do you want to see Obama use?

TheNextEra said:

I'm curious, what measures do you want to see Obama use?

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Against terrorists? We have tons of proven effective methods we can use as far as interrogation.

Redress said:

Against terrorists? We have tons of proven effective methods we can use as far as interrogation.

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Yes, but Lerxst mentioned specifically that Obama isn't doing anything about it, so I asked what dod he want Obama to do that Obama isn't according to Lerxst?

Redress said:

Against terrorists? We have tons of proven effective methods we can use as far as interrogation.

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Withholding the strawberry poptarts may be too extreme.

TheNextEra said:

Yes, but Lerxst mentioned specifically that Obama isn't doing anything about it, so I asked what dod he want Obama to do that Obama isn't according to Lerxst?

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Well he wants something definitive.


An unenforcable executive order to begin to think about closing gitmo a year from now followed by an open threat to an ally for threatening to expose torture isnt definitive enough?

akyron said:

Well he wants something definitive.


An unenforcable executive order to begin to think about closing gitmo a year from now isnt definitive enough?

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How about we let Lerxst answer the question instead of you shall we?

TheNextEra said:

Yes, but Lerxst mentioned specifically that Obama isn't doing anything about it, so I asked what dod he want Obama to do that Obama isn't according to Lerxst?

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I understand. I thought President Obama had stopped torture.

TheNextEra said:

How about we let Lerxst answer the question instead of you shall we?

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All right but I still think Obama should threaten to withhold strawberry poptarts from the gourmet meals. Im just mean that way.

akyron said:

All right but I still think Obama should threaten to withhold strawberry poptarts from the gourmet meals. Im just mean that way.

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I think that might only affect you and maybe me, although I can stomach the blueberry ones in an emergency.

TheNextEra said:

I think that might only affect you and maybe me, although I can stomach the blueberry ones in an emergency.

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Its only a threat. To actually do it would be crazy.

TheNextEra said:

I'm curious, what measures do you want to see Obama use?

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I want him to end torture in all forms and in all cases, I want him to end the argument over whether or not Geneva Convention rules apply to our prisoners and make a determination that they do apply and we will honor them, I want him to ensure that we honor human rights in this regard, and I want him to close the detention camps at Gitmo. I want him to use the full weight of the Office of the President of the United States to stop this heinous practice and move this nation forward.

TheNextEra said:

Yes, but Lerxst mentioned specifically that Obama isn't doing anything about it, so I asked what dod he want Obama to do that Obama isn't according to Lerxst?

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No I didn't say he wasn't doing anything about it. What I meant was I want to actually get done. No political excuses. Push it and get it done. I don't want him succumbing to horsetrading or "mushroom cloud" fear mongering. I want him to close the book on it. It's not done until it's actually done. He could back off of some of his commitments here for any number of reasons. He's the President but he's still a politician.

Lerxst said:

No I didn't say he wasn't doing anything about it. What I meant was I want to actually get done. No political excuses. Push it and get it done. I don't want him succumbing to horsetrading or "mushroom cloud" fear mongering. I want him to close the book on it. It's not done until it's actually done. He could back off of some of his commitments here for any number of reasons. He's the President but he's still a politician.

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Obviously he can't just push the book on it and get it done, because it involves funding he has to get approved through congress.

Alexander currently has a book out about the interrogations he conducted on high-value insurgent prisoners in Iraq. These interrogations culminated with the intel necessary to isolate Musab al-Zarqawi and kill him. A good read.

Redress said:

I understand. I thought President Obama had stopped torture.

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Well, that's what the leftist twits in the media have propagandized.

It's a complete lie, however. He is free to torture whomever he wishes and nothing has changed whatsoever if Obama deigns to call the subjects to be totured targets of counter terrorism measures.

bhkad said:

Different strokes for different folks.

Some techniques will work better on some subjects better than other techniques will work on others.

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What amuses me with the terrorist sympathizers is that lot of them must think water boarding is the first thing interrogators do. Because I am sure a hand full of sugar free cookies is a lot cheaper and lot easier than SIMULATED water drowning, sleep deprivation and other things that actually require effort, more money and are probably used as a last resort.

jamesrage said:

What amuses me with the terrorist sympathizers is that lot of them must think water boarding is the first thing interrogators do. Because I am sure a hand full of sugar free cookies is a lot cheaper and lot easier than SIMULATED water drowning, sleep deprivation and other things that actually require effort, more money and are probably used as a last resort.

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Who are these terrorist sympathizers I keep hearing about? So much talk of them, and I have never met a single one.

jamesrage said:

What amuses me with the terrorist sympathizers is that lot of them must think water boarding is the first thing interrogators do. Because I am sure a hand full of sugar free cookies is a lot cheaper and lot easier than SIMULATED water drowning, sleep deprivation and other things that actually require effort, more money and are probably used as a last resort.

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Your views on rendition flights and the reasons for the chosen destinations?

Redress said:

Against terrorists? We have tons of proven effective methods we can use as far as interrogation.

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Like what? Terrorists are scum of the earth. They pose a threat to national security and countless civilian lives. If close members of your family where barbarically murdered by a terrorist in a car bomb or plane hijacking, how would you feel? Anger, a need for revenge, getting your hands on the grubby motherf.uckers who did it and beating them to the last inch of there life.

Terrorists deserve this kind of treatment. THAT is what i call justice. Not only is it the upmost effective method for gaining information that will save American and allied lives, but its justice. When we gather all the information we need and intelligence services feel satisfied, they can rehab them afterwards. Otherwise this is totally neccessary. No saying they will speak with "other methods". But with torture, its gaurenteed. It may be barbaric, or wrong, but no less wrong or barbaric than the actions of the terrorist. I see no reason not to torture these bastards. I know its a hardliner stance but damn, we need it sometimes. And sometimes people deserve it. This type of treatment of course should be reserved to terrorists only, the nations biggest threat to national security.

The secret is supposedly warm goat's milk with cookies and some porno mags.

bhkad said:

Different strokes for different folks.

Some techniques will work better on some subjects better than other techniques will work on others.

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Force me to listen to Rap music and I'll tell you anything you want!!!