As a veteran of Viet Nam, a Helicopter Pilot that flew "NOC" Missions into Laos and Cambodia for the 5th SF s in 70 and was an Honor Graduate of MP AIT I was FULLY KNOWLEDGEABLE that we weren't covered by the Geneva Convention unless we could get back to Viet Nam. I also knew that whenever the CIA was involved the mission was totally screwed up and the Special Forces people were always open about why, the CIA were all smug, arrogant and wouldn't listen to anybody that countered their opinions with actual facts or field operations. As an ex MP I informed them about how NVA prisoners were supposed to be treated and the non special forces guys laughed at me! So when I heard about Abu Graib I knew it COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE MP'S! on their OWN!! In MP SCHOOL you're taught that under GENEVA CONVENTION any HARM to a prisoner will send you to JAIL!! It seems Feinsteins observation about the CIA IGA Herndon (i think) saying that they have no SOP for interrogation as a problem in 2005 and that was how and why they tortured in Viet Nam! They really think they are above the LAW!
Americans, I think have been and will remain targets no matter what the report said. I think most individuals knew or assumed the government was lying when it said it wasn't torturing. Was the torture cruel? Of course. When isn't torture cruel? Did it contribute to usefull intelligence? Perhaps. Did it say American lives? Maybe. But if it did save just one American's life, then it was worth it. If it produced any actionable information, then it was worth it. However, it should not be used indescriminately (like on someone who is actually working for us and got picked up in a sweep). Of course, what we're call torture or "enhanced interrorgation techniques" is nothing compared to the SS, Gestopo, or Japanesse during WWII, or the Soviets, North Koreans, Vietnamesse, or Chinese. Occupying the moral highground may make for good soundbites, but in the field, it may just get you killed.
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As a veteran of Viet Nam, a Helicopter Pilot that flew "NOC" Missions into Laos and Cambodia for the 5th SF s in 70 and was an Honor Graduate of MP AIT I was FULLY KNOWLEDGEABLE that we weren't covered by the Geneva Convention unless we could get back to Viet Nam. I also knew that whenever the CIA was involved the mission was totally screwed up and the Special Forces people were always open about why, the CIA were all smug, arrogant and wouldn't listen to anybody that countered their opinions with actual facts or field operations. As an ex MP I informed them about how NVA prisoners were supposed to be treated and the non special forces guys laughed at me! So when I heard about Abu Graib I knew it COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE MP'S! on their OWN!! In MP SCHOOL you're taught that under GENEVA CONVENTION any HARM to a prisoner will send you to JAIL!! It seems Feinsteins observation about the CIA IGA Herndon (i think) saying that they have no SOP for interrogation as a problem in 2005 and that was how and why they tortured in Viet Nam! They really think they are above the LAW!
Americans, I think have been and will remain targets no matter what the report said. I think most individuals knew or assumed the government was lying when it said it wasn't torturing. Was the torture cruel? Of course. When isn't torture cruel? Did it contribute to usefull intelligence? Perhaps. Did it say American lives? Maybe. But if it did save just one American's life, then it was worth it. If it produced any actionable information, then it was worth it. However, it should not be used indescriminately (like on someone who is actually working for us and got picked up in a sweep). Of course, what we're call torture or "enhanced interrorgation techniques" is nothing compared to the SS, Gestopo, or Japanesse during WWII, or the Soviets, North Koreans, Vietnamesse, or Chinese. Occupying the moral highground may make for good soundbites, but in the field, it may just get you killed.