Abu Zubaydah cooperated without the use of torture
Today’s Op-Ed in the New York Times from Agent Ali Soufan:
One of the most striking parts of the memos is the false premises on which they are based. The first, dated August 2002, grants authorization to use harsh interrogation techniques on a high-ranking terrorist, Abu Zubaydah, on the grounds that previous methods hadn’t been working. The next three memos cite the successes of those methods as a justification for their continued use.
It is inaccurate, however, to say that Abu Zubaydah had been uncooperative. Along with another F.B.I. agent, and with several C.I.A. officers present, I questioned him from March to June 2002, before the harsh techniques were introduced later in August. Under traditional interrogation methods, he provided us with important actionable intelligence.
Without using torture, Abu Zubaydah gave up the name of Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks; and, Jose Padilla, the so-called Dirty Bomber. Jose has already been convicted of a small offense, they could never bring a higher offense charge on him, because his mind has been destroyed through the use of torture. Soufan stated:
There was no actionable intelligence gained from using enhanced interrogation techniques on Abu Zubaydah that wasn’t, or couldn’t have been, gained from regular tactics.
Soufan believes it is important for the truth to come out and to make sure these mistakes are never repeated. He does not want the C.I.A. to be destroyed because of it, rather he wants improvements in policy.
The F.B.I. did not participate in torture, they remain untarnished and well respected. Whether, the C.I.A. can overcome this remains to be seen. Crimes against humanity is a pretty tough charge for most of us to dismiss. The C.I.A. has a history of nefarious affairs and survived, but this one surpasses all by far.
Today’s Times Free Press has an AP story: “Democrats want torture probes ignoring Obama pleas for unity.” The AP doesn’t mention that torture is illegal and it is up to our Justicie Department to uphold the law. No, instead AP writes:
“But Democrats were moving in their own directions, and Republicans were united in their opposition to see a commission that they see as an effort to vilify George W. Bush now that he is out of office.”
What hogwash this is. AP is a hack.
Nice post, Sandy. I’ve been reading about a memo claiming Zubaydah & KSM gave up actionable intelligence that prevented Los Angeles attack under torture. I never gave it much credence, but this is something to stack up against that memo for those who believed it.
Thanks, Smijer. They got valuable information without torture since that worked for them, I don’t understand why the CIA changed course? Unless, the sinister people at the top (Rice, Tenet, Cheney, Hayden) just have a sadistic streak.
This torture is so repugnant to me.