Wednesday, May 30, 2007

They just don't interrogate like they used to

Actually, according to a recent study, commissioned by the Intelligence Science Board, maybe they do. Or, at least, the United States seems to. In fact, while homicide detectives and many other nations have improved their interrogation techniques, the elite forces commissioned by the US government have been relying on tried-and-true methods, like torture. It's so bad that the study calls US interrogation strategies "outmoded, amateurish and unreliable."

The study points out that many of the techniques used date to the 1950's, or are adapted from practices used by the former Soviet Union. They also point out that it's been almost systematically proven that inflicting pain doesn't necessarily bring results, a point seemingly only disputed by the US government and by the writers of 24.

It could always be worse, we suppose. The government could step from amateurish to childish when it comes to their interrogation techniques. For example, they could threaten to hold their breath until an enemy spills the secrets they know. They could simply keep asking, "Why?" until they hear an answer that they want. Or they could threaten to pack up their toys and go home, not wanting to play with the others.

Actually, in light of the current global climate, maybe the US packing up its toys might not be a bad route to go. It certainly would be a better alternative to "waterboarding". And maybe, if the government takes the report into consideration, we might find new and improved ways of gathering information from people. Our suggestion here at the CSM? Put them on a program like Oprah or The View. It seems impossible for people not to talk about their deepest and darkest secrets when they've got a camera pointed at them.

Hey, if it worked for Rosie O'Donnell, why wouldn't it work for Al Qaeda?

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