'It Was Torture': An Abu Ghraib Interrogator Acknowledges 'Horrible Mistakes'

MAJ Bryan Zeski - Yea, I previously read that report. The CIA stated that enhanced interrogation techniques were effective, but the Senate disagreed. The problem I have is that I find it hard to believe that the CIA, or any entity for that matter, would use torture to obtain valuable information if it really didn't work; that just doesn't make sense to me. On the other hand, I can imagine a Senate committee could be full of crap depending on which way the wind is blowing. Congress also investigated the Ruby Ridge and Waco debacles and totally white washed them, not holding anyone in federal law enforcement accountable, so I don't have much faith in any report originating from a Congressional committee.

Cpl Mark McMiller - Well of course the agency that is using the technique is going to say it's effective. I think that the CIA, and any other agency, THINKS that it works - but that doesn't mean it does. I imagine that it's hard to prove either way - if you're pulling out fingernails to get one piece of a much larger puzzle, you have to wonder where the good vs evil line really is. Even from a strictly cost v. benefit analysis, can we say that the time and effort put into torture has resulted in enough actionable intelligence to make it worth while?

MAJ Bryan Zeski - I don't know because I don't have enough information. And I don't like us using torture even if it does work because we're supposed to be the good guys; but I would tolerate it if it was actually getting us information that is saving innocent lives, especially in the case of a WMD.

Cpl Mark McMiller - My hard line is that if we're the good guys, we have to act like it. There have been exactly zero cases where torture has resulted in stopping some imminent attack (that we know of). Good guys can't tolerate doing evil things - even with "good intentions."

Probably the worst thing to get involved in for a Wannabe Minister. That Fiasco and or Working for the NSA my Old Company. Probably the Polar Opposite of Most Orthodox Religious Teachings.