The Political Chase

The CIA’s Interrogation Techniques

Sometimes important news does not get the attention it should because of other significant events. Yesterday was a good example. With the eruption of events related to Rep. Murtha’s position on the war in Iraq, and Michael Scanlon making his way to the jail house, this ABC News exclusive was somewhat side-lined.

With information provided by former and current CIA officers and supervisors, ABC has published a detailed description of torture techniques authorized and employed the US officials. The primary methods of torture in an ascending order are:

1. The Attention Grab: The interrogator forcefully grabs the shirt front of the prisoner and shakes him.

2. Attention Slap: An open-handed slap aimed at causing pain and triggering fear.

3. The Belly Slap: A hard open-handed slap to the stomach. The aim is to cause pain, but not internal injury. Doctors consulted advised against using a punch, which could cause lasting internal damage.

4. Long Time Standing: This technique is described as among the most effective. Prisoners are forced to stand, handcuffed and with their feet shackled to an eye bolt in the floor for more than 40 hours. Exhaustion and sleep deprivation are effective in yielding confessions.

5. The Cold Cell: The prisoner is left to stand naked in a cell kept near 50 degrees. Throughout the time in the cell the prisoner is doused with cold water.

6. Water Boarding: The prisoner is bound to an inclined board, feet raised and head slightly below the feet. Cellophane is wrapped over the prisoner’s face and water is poured over him. Unavoidably, the gag reflex kicks in and a terrifying fear of drowning leads to almost instant pleas to bring the treatment to a halt.

The water boarding technique is apparently considerably more noxious when applied rather than the image I see when reading the description. Mind you, that’s a relative statement. ABC reports that the longest anyone has endured this technique is just over two minutes. The report describes it as the recipient has perception they are going to die/be killed.

Khalid Sheik Mohammed, a valuable al Qaeda detainee, is alleged to hold the record for water boarding. The short duration of toleration and the fact that someone is keeping score is a bit telling.which leads us to this graf from the report.

According to the sources, when an interrogator wishes to use a particular technique on a prisoner, the policy at the CIA is that each step of the interrogation process must be signed off at the highest level — by the deputy director for operations for the CIA. A cable must be sent and a reply received each time a progressively harsher technique is used. The described oversight appears tough but critics say it could be tougher. In reality, sources said, there are few known instances when an approval has not been granted.

Now to a little Clintonism. Define torture. Does the above, any of them, fit the definition? If I were the object, the answer would be yes. But, I am wrong, woefully wrong, because the president said unequivocally on November 7, 2005, “We do not torture.” And, the president is never wrong.

Just two days ago, a former Director of Central Intelligence said, “I think it is reprehensible. He (Mr. Cheney) advocates torture, what else is it?”

Next, this is what we’re told from knowledgeable sources; there is always an unknown. So, how far does it go — torture that is, not authority. We’ve all seen the pictures with electrical wiring attached to appendages; what was too gruesome for even those present to record for posterity via a camera?

Stop for a moment and just think about this. Torture, the brawl in the House of Representatives last night, the egregious personal attack on Rep. Murtha — a most honorable and respected man, scandalous smear strategies emanating from the White House, a vice president that advocates torture, a country — ours — polarized unlike it has been since possibly the Civil War (still weighing in on Vietnam era)…and more.

Systemic could be used to quickly pull all that together, but it is too simple to leave it at that. I plan to raise the level of discussion on this systemic problem.

Stay tuned.

GOP Has Murtha in Crosshairs

I mentioned in this post that the GOP may have the House Ethics Committee start some type of investigation of Murtha; well, here it is, from Roll Call (sub. req.)

“Republican lawmakers say that ties between Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) and his brother’s lobbying firm, KSA Consulting, may warrant investigation by the House ethics committee.”

Former CIA Director: USA Has VP for Torture

You may have already seen this since it is a little over a day old. I don’t know how much worse things can get, but the fact remains they will. And, it’s not like these are unjustified statements.

Admiral Stansfield Turner on Dick Cheney:

Admiral Stansfield Turner, a former CIA director, accused US Vice President Dick Cheney of overseeing policies of torturing terrorist suspects and damaging the nation’s reputation.

"I am embarrassed that the USA has a vice president for torture. I think it is just reprehensible. He (Mr Cheney) advocates torture, what else is it? I just don’t understand how a man in that position can take such a stance."

Sad, but true.

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Scanlon Charges

Here’s the heart of the charges brought against Michael Scanlon and a bit of vision for the future.

Corruption Scheme

    19.   From in or about January 2000 through in or about April 2004, SCANLON and Lobbyist A, together and separately, provided a stream of things of value to Representative #1 and members of his staff, including but not limited to a lavish trip to Scotland to play golf on world-famous courses, tickets to sporting events and other entertainment, regular meals at Lobbyist A’s upscale restaurant, and campaign contributions for Representative #1, his political action committee, and other political committees on behalf of Representative #1.

   20.   From in or about January 2000 through in or about April 2004, SCANLON and Lobbyist A, together and separately, sought and received Representative #1’s agreement to perform a series of official acts, including but not limited to agreements to support and pass legislation, agreements to place statements into the Congressional Record, meetings with Lobbyist A and SCANLON’s clients, and advancing the application of a client of Lobbyist A for a license to install wireless infrastructure in the House of Representatives.

That’s a pretty easy fill-in-the-blanks test.

Adam Roberts on Murtha

Adam Roberts, a young blogger at The Metropolis Times on Murtha.

I usually shy away from the angry rant post, but this week’s events have pushed me too far. I just don’t understand far-right Republicans sometimes. Decent human morality aside, do you honestly believe that smear attacks work? Take your head out of the sand and look at the polls.

Do you think character assassination is funny? Do you think making up cute nicknames for ‘defeatists’ or ‘feminazis’ contributes anything to public discourse? Do you think the voting public is just too stupid to see through your ad hominem attacks if you can just make enough of them? Do you think that the more vitriolic an argument is, the more convincing it is?

Or maybe its the nature of modern media. Maybe you look at Michael Moore and Ann Coulter and figure that the best way to get publicity is to be as controversial as possible. In a busy world where cable TV, satellite radio and the crowded blogosphere compete for attention, being offensive is the best way to get noticed.

None of that excuses your despicable treatment of Rep. John Murtha. Murtha is a centrist, a respected member of Congress and an American war hero. Now that he spoke out against the Iraq War, he is being blasted as an un-American coward on the floors of our nation’s capital, across the airwaves and internet. You feel free to insult and belittle true patriots while you hide behind the troops and even the flag.

Michael Scanlon Indictment

The indictment of Michael Scanlon has been added to the TPC document library and is available for downloading.

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Comment on the Three Ring Circus

TPC reader SW on the Murtha issue and the foolishness underway in the House of Representatives…

I just tried calling Congresswoman Schmidt’s office to politely demand a public apology to Murtha; I first got a message from her to leave a voice mail, then another message that I couldn’t because her voice mail was full.

This whole debate is infuriating me, and Congressman Murtha’s stirring rhetoric made many excellent points. I’ve been spending many hours at the local VA Hospital lately, and each time, seeing more young people who seem overwhelmed;  the entire VA system is underfunded and overwhelmed as well. Murtha knows the cost of fighting; Schmidt and Cheney should be appalled and ashamed of themselves for even questioning it.

Well said.

Vote Passed to Debate

The Republicans won the vote on whether to debate the immediate withdrawal of the troops from Iraq.  Debate has started. I doubt the Speaker will allow the debate to go longer than an hour, which I believe is the minimum required time for open debate.

You can catch it on C-SPAN.

The slug Henry Hyde (R-IL) opened the debate…

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House in an uproar…

The House is in an absolute uproar over Rep. John Murtha’s (D-PA) remarks yesterday about the war in Iraq. As I write this, The House is in the process of voting on whether to debate a GOP grandstanding, bogus resolution to withdraw the American troops from Iraq immediately.

If you haven’t already heard about the scathing remarks Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) directed at Murtha today, this will give you a flavor of the hostility.

Yesterday I stood at Arlington National Cemetery attending the funeral of a young marine in my district. He believed in what we were doing is the right thing and had the courage to lay his life on the line to do it. A few minutes ago I received a call from Colonel Danny Bubp, Ohio Representative from the 88th district in the House of Representatives. He asked me to send Congress a message: Stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message, that cowards cut and run, Marines never do. Danny and the rest of America and the world want the assurance from this body – that we will see this through.

As an additional attack, I heard a Representative from NC was making statements about turning Murtha inside out in an investigation by the House Ethics Committee.  More on that soon later.

DeLay Advertises He Is Majority Leader

Somebody needs to tell Tom DeLay (R-TX) that he is no longer the House Majority Leader.

From the Honorable Congressman’s Web site:

Tom DeLay serves as majority leader, the second ranking leader in the United States House of Representatives. He is responsible for developing the issues and policies that form the Republican agenda, in conjunction with committee chairmen and the rest of the leadership. DeLay sets the legislative schedule by selecting which bills the House will consider and the timing of their consideration. DeLay also coordinates House committees’ work to ensure national priorities are addressed.

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Scanlon Flipped

It did not take long. Jack Abramoff’s partner, Michael Scanlon, flipped and will cooperate with hopes of a plea bargain.

The following was copied from Josh Marshall’s post at Talking Points Memo.

Miichael Scanlon has agreed to testify against one-time business partner Jack Abramoff in any future criminal case involving the ex-lobbying superstar.

The Justice Department has filed a “criminal information” document in federal court related to Scanlon, and there will be a hearing before a federal judge Monday afternoon.

At that time, Scanlon is expected to plead guilty to one felony count of conspiracy. Scanlon, a former aide to Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), would then testify against Abramoff and anyone else indicted in the case, according to Justice Department sources.

Note the “…and anyone else indicted in the case.” Anyone know what festivities are scheduled in Harris County, TX this weekend?

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