Re-Examining Bush Era Interrogation Tactics http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103383446&ft=1&f=103383446 Newly declassified documents renew questions about the treatment of terrorism suspects during the George W. Bush administration. President Obama says Justice Department officials who authorized harsh interrogation techniques are not immune from prosecution. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:47:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Re-Examining Bush Era Interrogation Tactics http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103383446&ft=1&f=103383446 One Man Says No To Harsh Interrogation Techniques Matthew Alexander, a pseudonym for the author, was a military interrogator in Iraq who rejected previously used harsh techniques. He writes about how his team hunted down two key al-Qaida operatives in <em>Kill or Capture.</em> Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:47:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133497869/one-man-says-no-to-harsh-interrogation-techniques?ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/2011/02/14/133497869/one-man-says-no-to-harsh-interrogation-techniques?ft=1&f=103383446 Matthew Alexander, a pseudonym for the author, was a military interrogator in Iraq who rejected previously used harsh techniques. He writes about how his team hunted down two key al-Qaida operatives in Kill or Capture.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Cheney's Role In CIA Briefings Unusual, But Legal As vice president, Dick Cheney led CIA briefings with senior members of Congress on Bush-era harsh interrogation program, a news report says. Intelligence experts say Cheney's role, while highly unusual, was within legal parameters — and underscores his stake in the program. Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104887802&ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104887802&ft=1&f=103383446 As vice president, Dick Cheney led CIA briefings with senior members of Congress on Bush-era harsh interrogation program, a news report says. Intelligence experts say Cheney's role, while highly unusual, was within legal parameters — and underscores his stake in the program.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Obama, Cheney Face Off On Torture In dramatic, back-to-back speeches, the president repudiated the Bush administration for choosing "expedience" over the rule of law. The former VP, meanwhile, warned that Obama's efforts to find "middle ground" would leave the country exposed to attack. Thu, 21 May 2009 15:21:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104391451&ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104391451&ft=1&f=103383446 In dramatic, back-to-back speeches, the president repudiated the Bush administration for choosing "expedience" over the rule of law. The former VP, meanwhile, warned that Obama's efforts to find "middle ground" would leave the country exposed to attack.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Torture Debate Ties Washington In Partisan Knots The rhetoric over harsh interrogation tactics — and clamor for disclosure and inquiry — are intensifying. President Obama is being urged to step in and name an independent panel to examine what went wrong in the Bush Justice Department. Wed, 20 May 2009 13:50:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104340314&ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104340314&ft=1&f=103383446 The rhetoric over harsh interrogation tactics — and clamor for disclosure and inquiry — are intensifying. President Obama is being urged to step in and name an independent panel to examine what went wrong in the Bush Justice Department.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Pelosi Accuses CIA Of Misleading Congress House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that the CIA misled her in 2002 about the use of waterboarding against detainees in the war on terrorism. Pelosi went beyond her previous remarks about a briefing she attended, saying she had asked about the technique that many consider torture, and had been told it was not being used. Fri, 15 May 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104177393&ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104177393&ft=1&f=103383446 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that the CIA misled her in 2002 about the use of waterboarding against detainees in the war on terrorism. Pelosi went beyond her previous remarks about a briefing she attended, saying she had asked about the technique that many consider torture, and had been told it was not being used.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> CIA Contractors Played Big Role In Interrogations Congressional testimony this week showed that private CIA contractors were a driving force behind harsh interrogations. Although there are lawsuits against military contractors involved in detainee abuse, there has been far less legal action against contractors who worked for the CIA. Fri, 15 May 2009 00:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104160006&ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104160006&ft=1&f=103383446 Congressional testimony this week showed that private CIA contractors were a driving force behind harsh interrogations. Although there are lawsuits against military contractors involved in detainee abuse, there has been far less legal action against contractors who worked for the CIA.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> CIA Won't Release Memos Sought By Cheney Vice President Dick Cheney says the two documents would show that harsh interrogation techniques used during the Bush administration were effective, but the CIA says they contain information that is the subject of pending litigation. Thu, 14 May 2009 14:16:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104150075&ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104150075&ft=1&f=103383446 Vice President Dick Cheney says the two documents would show that harsh interrogation techniques used during the Bush administration were effective, but the CIA says they contain information that is the subject of pending litigation.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> White House Reverses Decision On Abuse Photos The Obama administration had said it would release Pentagon photos of prisoner abuse by May 28. But when military and foreign policy experts protested the decision, the White House reversed course — saying the release of the photos would endanger U.S. troops. Thu, 14 May 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104125164&ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104125164&ft=1&f=103383446 The Obama administration had said it would release Pentagon photos of prisoner abuse by May 28. But when military and foreign policy experts protested the decision, the White House reversed course — saying the release of the photos would endanger U.S. troops.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Senate Panel Delves Into Harsh Interrogation Methods A Congressional subcommittee on Wednesday had a hearing with two witnesses who warned the Bush administration against harsh interrogation techniques. One is Ali Soufan, the FBI agent who interrogated Abu Zubaydah. The other is Philip Zelikow, the State Department official who protested that there was no legal basis for justifying the techniques. Thu, 14 May 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104125189&ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104125189&ft=1&f=103383446 A Congressional subcommittee on Wednesday had a hearing with two witnesses who warned the Bush administration against harsh interrogation techniques. One is Ali Soufan, the FBI agent who interrogated Abu Zubaydah. The other is Philip Zelikow, the State Department official who protested that there was no legal basis for justifying the techniques.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Torture Issue Won't Die Down The treatment of detainees from the war on terrorism is not an issue President Obama wanted to see dominate his early months in office. But the release of legal memos justifying extreme techniques brought the issue to the fore, and the president's decision not to release pictures of detainee abuse in prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan is bound to keep it there. Thu, 14 May 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104125192&ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104125192&ft=1&f=103383446 The treatment of detainees from the war on terrorism is not an issue President Obama wanted to see dominate his early months in office. But the release of legal memos justifying extreme techniques brought the issue to the fore, and the president's decision not to release pictures of detainee abuse in prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan is bound to keep it there.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Ex-FBI Interrogator Calls Harsh Tactics 'Ineffective' Former senior FBI agent Ali Soufan, who was involved in the interrogation of captured al-Qaida operative Abu Zubaydah, tells a Senate Judiciary panel on Wednesday that the use of harsh techniques to extract information was "slow, ineffective and unreliable." Wed, 13 May 2009 12:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104092457&ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104092457&ft=1&f=103383446 Former senior FBI agent Ali Soufan, who was involved in the interrogation of captured al-Qaida operative Abu Zubaydah, tells a Senate Judiciary panel on Wednesday that the use of harsh techniques to extract information was "slow, ineffective and unreliable."

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Parties Face Off Over CIA Interrogation Briefings Republicans have used a CIA memo to point out that top Democrats who were briefed on interrogation techniques used under the Bush administration did not act to stop them. But Democrats say that's not fair, arguing that they had few options for taking action on what was classified information. Wed, 13 May 2009 20:40:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104075915&ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104075915&ft=1&f=103383446 Republicans have used a CIA memo to point out that top Democrats who were briefed on interrogation techniques used under the Bush administration did not act to stop them. But Democrats say that's not fair, arguing that they had few options for taking action on what was classified information.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Cheney Defends Enhanced Interrogation Techniques One vocal participant in the debate over enhanced interrogation techniques is former Vice President Dick Cheney. Recently he has stepped into the breach to defend the policies of the Bush administration. Wed, 13 May 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104079567&ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104079567&ft=1&f=103383446 One vocal participant in the debate over enhanced interrogation techniques is former Vice President Dick Cheney. Recently he has stepped into the breach to defend the policies of the Bush administration.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Torture Memo Probe May Lead To Disbarments As the Justice Department nears the end of its investigation into lawyers who wrote memos authorizing harsh interrogations, sources tell NPR that the report will refer people to bar associations for possible disciplinary action. But they also suggest that the investigation may stop short of recommending criminal charges. Tue, 05 May 2009 13:40:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103818643&ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103818643&ft=1&f=103383446 As the Justice Department nears the end of its investigation into lawyers who wrote memos authorizing harsh interrogations, sources tell NPR that the report will refer people to bar associations for possible disciplinary action. But they also suggest that the investigation may stop short of recommending criminal charges.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Critics Skeptical Of Made-For-TV Torture Claims The "ticking time bomb" scenario that prompts officials to torture terrorists for information might exist in movies and on television, but experts say they are skeptical that similar scenarios happen in real life. Tue, 05 May 2009 16:34:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103792752&ft=1&f=103383446 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103792752&ft=1&f=103383446 The "ticking time bomb" scenario that prompts officials to torture terrorists for information might exist in movies and on television, but experts say they are skeptical that similar scenarios happen in real life.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]>