Secret CIA memos released: What do you think?

Let's ask the victims of 9/11 if the tactics went too far. Oh wait we can't ask them. I feel we should be able to do WHATEVER we need to do. If things would be the other way around the end-state would be death. I think we did what we needed to do.

Steve
US Army Retired

If waterboarding techniques are used, for instance, to gain information from suspected terrorists and saves just one american life then it's all worth it. Too many humanists think war and protecting our liberties is a perfectly sculpted process. Notice how we prevented attacks since 9/11 on U.S. soil due to information gathering. That's worth it.

1) The Bush administration used whatever tactics were necessary in a post-9/11 world to prevent another attack, and in 7.5 years there has not been another terrorist attack on American soil;

2) I would hardly call "sleep deprivation" and "startling" torture techniques; I would classify things like removing fingernails with pliers, beatings, starvation, and other directly physical and painful tactics as torture – many of which our own US servicemen have endured in the wars they have fought to preserve our freedom throughout history;

3)"Insect torture"? Come on – the guy is a known terrorist whose reason for living is to kill Americans – get a clue, ACLU.

Other countries torture our people much worse. They torture then behead civilians. Again the criminal has more rights than the victum.

The Obama Admin. in its attempt to embarrass the Bush Admin again has gone too far. If Pres. Obama, a lawyer, agrees with the report then he should not have released CIA operators from individual liability as following illegal orders has been ruled improper. Should a hitman for the moffia be released since he was only following orders? We send very old German guards back due to their actions sixty years ago when they only followed orders. Which we had Americans in charge of our government! M. Hiatt

When an "American Soldier" is captured how do you think they treat him? 5 star hotel, I think not ! Ask John MC Cain. That does not mean we sink to the enemies level, it means we have the courage to to take drastic steps and will not back down , we are proud to be American!!!

Remember the saying all's fair in love and war. Well I am not for in- humane treatment but sleep deprevation and some of the tactics help to break down a person, helping to get very valueable information from enemies of our country. Boy if we could see everything our enemies have done to our soldiers and citizens we would realize that in war there is a tremendous difference between jeprodizing our countries true safety and being protective of enemies of our country.

As a country, talking about this is not good and makes the times tougher as nation. These information gathering techniquesI are a necessary evil to keep us safe and the ACLU has no business protecting those who wish to do our innocent children harm. Unless you have lived in a predominantly Muslim culture, you do not understand the determination of these people, not only in terrorism, but just the way they live life in religion.

The operatives were working under orders, the person or persons under the Bush Administration that approved these techniques should be investigated and face criminal charge.

With this whole gitmo thing, Obama seems to be doing all he can for his Muslim buddies. The minit he opens the door to free terrorists, impeachment procedings should begin. If even one of them harms an American, then the procedings should be shifted to treason.

Torture? It was torture when these people came to our country and killed our people, it was torture when they cut the heads off of our citizens and when they beat and raped our service men and women. Not when we threw a bug into their prison cell or played music they hated. Wake up people they attacked us.

These critics need to stop drinking the liberal cool-aid! Remember the journalist who had his head cut off on I believe Al-Jazzerah TV?
Do you think that was a pleasurable experience?! That's what these terrorists are capable of with NO REMORSE! Maybe we need to see the complete devastation of the World Trade Centers again to remind us? As a soldier retired having served in Iraq i knew being taken prisoner meant torture and most likely death! I guess these liberals think that's ok for those who protect their freedoms? We need to pull out all the stops to protect this country.

my children were taken to 40 location,tackled, tied down, forced drugs, and all communications cut off for days/weeks without attorneys or knowledge about them to judges, teachers , relatives or friends. citizens of usa are subject to this torture eveyday; inhumane and cruel treatments causing p.t.s.s. [children] are citizens and so are the families teachers doctors who have no rights over these citizens, only heavy handed officials who donot carw about constitutional laws and rights.[having tech problems]

i jst wonder if the terrorist held as detainies care about you and i as much as the aclu care about them? I feel they are prisoners of war, they torture and behead their prisoners, we drip water on them, and make them stand naked,,,hmmm,,,,,so what ever the aclu is complaning about, is nothing like what they did to our men and women on 911, or on the ground in iraq..THEY ARE PRISONERS OF WAR, they should be turned over to a country who will treat them as they treat others.

The CIA was justified in all it's methods. Will those who are crying change their mind when an atomic bomb is exploded on our shores.

They had no qualms about torturing our people. I believe there were two soldiers found beaten to death and were unrecognizable after they had been captured. American civilians in their custody have not only had their head cut off but had it publicized worldwide. I would love to ask the families of these people if they thought we went to far to interrogate the high ranking official who sanctioned these actions even though they did not participate in them. Does anyone really believe they would be the least bit squeemish when it came to torturing our people to get information?

If it saves American lives, awesome. If such simple tactics work, bravo to the person that invented them...

If American lives are lost because of the Obama administration removing access to this technique – they should be prosecuted!!

Give me a break, thats torture? And i suppose all the outraged folks sending in comments regarding prosecution of the intell agents were agast during 911 "how could this happen, why!!" This nation better get it's head out of it's ass and look around.

Now there is evidence that the Bush administration tortured people!!! There was peoples limbs pulled off, throats cut, people dieing horrible deaths!!! Oh yea, sorry, that's what the Islamic terrorists do, not Bush.

So many people forget that we are at war with ruthless killers that cut off our troops' heads with dull knives and swords. Waterboarding, insects, and slapping should be the least of the punishments administered to these heathens. If we gain valuable intelligence in the process, so be it. Not one US "operative" should be prosecuted.

We are a nation enthralled with Jack Bauer/24 – come on people, quit making such a big deal about the lightweight "torture" tactics used on the REAL terrorists!

I guess giving the terrorists a hug, a teddy bear and tucking them into a nice, cozy bed each night would have made them talk? Why do they deserve better than our 9/11 families and soldiers?

Nazi soldiers were just following orders when they ran the concentration camps. it was wrong then...it's wrong now. The actions of these interrogators and the higher ups that authorized them, were against our laws and treaties we had agreed to. Obama has the obligation to uphold America's laws and should prosecute these crimes.

I am sure if we were just NICE to the terrorist they would tell us what we need to know to protect Americans from harms way. I would suggest tea and crumpets in the afternoon as a way to show how accomodating we can be to those that have killed Americans at home and abroad.

Wake-up!

The ACLU has a problem with the type of torture,huh? Well why don't we pack all of them up,and send them overseas to see how us americans are being interrogated.Bet they change their tune

Placing a nude man in a holding cells isn't on par with Nazi concentration camps and your ignorance only servers to belittle Hitler's actions.

Violence begets violence. If we are to be a nation of laws and a civilized culture, we must maintain a level of dignity higher than that of our enemies. I only wish we had the time and resources to prosecute the heathens that authorized torture.

For all we know the goverment hides alot of information from the naked eye Obama can say one thing and prosecutors can say another...US is slacking on protection on ships we just saved a guy and now the terrorist are back! I think there is alittle more behind all this there is no way this could happend again

I went through worse in Basic Training and 2-a-days for High School Football... these methods mentioned aren't torture, those guys must be weak.

I don't see how the so called tortures in this report can be compared to having your head chopped off or your dead body dragged through the streets afterward for your grieving family to see. How naive can you be, I think your hearts should be bleeding for our soldiers and the people killed by these people who have no respect for the lives of others.

did we forget these people killed 3000+ of us/ lets slap them on the hand and give them a cookie. they should pay not felt sorry for

i had high respect for Obama, but now that he is using low tactics to discredit a former President, the respect will never be the same again. He forgot that people voted Democrats coz they didn't associated with the Rep anymore.
Those so called human rights activists should be sent to Pakistan and any of the arab nations, to get an understanding of what "love" exists there that is not islamic!!! They will all end up like Daniel Pearl.

Its hard to understand the people who protest the tactics that are used .
Don't they realize that every single terrorist released has returned to the workings of Al Qaeda.
I also wish the world was all free love and Peace but guess what...that doesnt actually work.

ARE YOU SERIOUS? Maybe if we sit down and ask them REALLY nice they might give us information to stop a terrorist attack that they are willing to die for. Furthermore these are not just random people off the street that we suspect are terrorist. The evidence that we convict people for murder in this country would get a detainee in Iraq released on lack of evidence.

what the governmebt does behind closed doors should be approved by the public- not select members of the white house. yes, it was there decision, but could they at least give us a heads up before something like this is made public?

Torture is terror interrogation tactics used by Nazi / Gestapo / Hitler like state sponsor criminal behavior .Civilized countrys do not act this way.Israel and Palestinians living with terrorizm almost a century, never I heard torturing captured terrorist.I am very surprized also,no jewish organizations responding or condemn this tortures.Any person who supports this torture tactics are extremist or criminal minded,

You mean we shackle these people? !!!!!!
Even waterboarding is worthwhile if it has saved even one American life, or any life for that matter. The idea that things like sleep deprivation and diapers is called torture is ridiculous. Making this public will have definitely made this country less safe, once the terrorists stop laughing! It constantly amazes me that people who think they mean well by making this public, can be such fools.

I unequivocally support these interrogation techniques.

If they have saved one military or one civilian causality then the end justifies any of the means. Ask the surviving families of 9/11, ask those sick and injured, ask the traumatized, ask our troops fighting and dying ask our troops families?

In fact I cannot even understand why we are having this supposed debate .This is a ridiculous attempt to use this pain for some political profit .

Please consider any method used to root out this evil as justified . So those poor terrorist caught by us or our allies deserve absolutely no special treatment ? Nope sorry they get what they deserve.

Bob , Syracuse

I thank there is nothing wrong using harsh treatment of the prisoner in Cuba to get information to save American lives , Where were the do-good er and crybaby when our people are being burned a live in 911,
Ever war we have Benn in our pow are tortured > Obama is a Muslim and is play nice with is Muslim ,He need to be impeached and put in jail .Until this country learns to stop being nice to the people who want to kill American then we will be at risk .We need to get Mean
And all the people who thank more of the terrorist then they need to go live with them we don't need you here Bill In Granbury

Give me a break! Have certain people forgot how they felt on the morning of September 11, 2001? Almost 3,000 people lost their lives! Now this is our concern? Were the Iran hostages pleasured with Hot Tubs and Bingo for 444 days? Here's an idea...all current and future detainees should be put in a $1,000 a day resort which THEY pay for. The terrorist will be of the street and also help the economy!

In relating to national security aka "9-11, and suicide bombers" who kill fourigeners and Americans a like. Do you honestly belive forced nudity, and stressed positions are a ridiculous prodicall to get necessary information from people who look to kill my little brother in high school and one of my best friends that is serving in Afganistan? I believe that they deserve some pretty severe actions other than the same treatment that common criminals get for shop lifting in the U.S! One is only to to believe that some of us Americans are becoming too soft.

Yes – the US must set an example and stand against torture. But, throwing a bug into a confined space with a prisoner? Oh, the Horror! The Horror! C'mon, brothers have been doing this to their sisters – worldwide – for eons!! This would make a good Far Side Cartoon!

Imagine having done nothing wrong, but be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Then, imagine being picked up under suspicion of a crime or a crime you "might" commit. Now, imagine being tortured to admit to what you have not done nor would not do. How would you feel?

If you don't believe in torture and think its wrong fine. But if youre the leader of our country don't go out there in public and state that you will never torture a prisoner! Your just giving terrorist groups another reason to not be afraid of capture. At least make them think that being captured would be a bad thing. Or maybe the terrorists need a vacation courtesy of the US dollar.

If torture will save one GI, do it.
Viet-nam disabled vet and proud of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You mean we actually shackle these people? !!!!!!
Even waterboarding is worthwhile if it has saved even one American life, or any life for that matter. The idea that things like sleep deprivation and diapers is called torture is ridiculous. Making this public will have definitely made this country less safe, once the terrorists stop laughing! It constantly amazes me that people who think they mean well by making this public, can be such fools.

This is exactly why this country is looked at as a joke. We feed and trained this dog (The US) to fight for & Defend our freedoms, and now we won’t let it bite!

The quickest way for a "civilized" nation to lose is to play by rules when dealing with terrorists. When in Rome applies here, those who want to play nice.... go live with the terrorists for a bit, see if conversation works.

The terrorists are committed to killing as many Americans as they can.
They show us no remorse and would not think twice about torturing/killing us to gather information. We should use any means possible to get information that would save American lives. I have no sympathy for these people as they have none for us. Obama's policies will only affect civilized people. AL-Qaida has shown that they are not civilzed people.

"The memo authorized keeping Zubaydah in a dark, confined space small enough to restrict the individual's movement for no more than two hours at a time. In addition, putting a harmless insect into the box with Zubaydah, who "appears to have a fear of insects," and telling him it is a stinging insect would be allowed, as long as Zubaydah was informed the insect's sting would not be fatal or cause severe pain."

Oh, the horror! Al Qaeda really must be mocking us. Torture? Hardly.
I wonder what Nick Berg thinks about this torturous technique? Oh wait, he's not here anymore-they sawed his head off. RIP Nick and all the rest who of you who have been slaughtered by Al Qaeda and their affiliates.
Karen

If it takes an act of torture on a mindless terrorist to allow my children to attend a school, enjoy a day at the beach or to worship in a church of their choice then i don't have problem with it. My problem is with the people of this country who want to cry and boo hoo about what extent our government, the greatest on earth, will go to , to keep the people of this country safe. These are the same people who enjoy the freedoms giving in this great nation but are not willing to put forth any effort to keep it that way.

I believe torture is Illegal under the constution of the United States of
America and Bill of Rights, unless unused against convicted
terrorists, lawyers and most republicans..............

If waterboarding and the like is so effective why don't we use it on drug dealers, gang members, Bernie Madoff, etc... and anyone else we need to get important information from. The reason we don't is because it's not humane and deep down inside we all know that, that's why the Bush administration kept it a secret.

The quickest way for a civilized nation to lose its moral compass and become like the enemies it despises is to throw the rule book away.
Intelligence officers have known since WW I that victims of torture provide bad intel-they will say ANYTHING to get relief. As to "Steve"s
comments, ask the Pentagon why it scheduled so many exercises on 9-11, including a CIA exercise flying hijacked planes into the WTC, and why NORAD sat on its hands for over 90 minutes before responding to the hijackings.

The prosecution of our military members for thier involvement in the torture and mistreatment of prisoners at Abu-Grab was not debated, nor defended, when the worlds view challenged President Bush and his administration to take action against the inhumane treatment of those prisoners.

How can anyone now defend the most Senior Political, CIA and Military figures that bare the most responsibility for this country's embarrassment and willful violation of the Geneva convention.

To allow a small group of soldiers to shoulder the illegal ramifications and punitive actions for our senior leadership and the Bush Administration is just so blatently wrong and should be considered as a slap in the face to all Military members of our Armed Forces.

What's good for the Goose is more than fitting for the Gander. Or in this case, President Bush, his Administration members and the Senior members of the Military who so willingly allowed the unethical practices that we as professional soldiers swear to uphold.

US Army (1SG) Retired

We don't torture gang members or drug dealers because they don't hold information that could stop thousands of American deaths. If they did I'm certain we would. You're dealing with a fatalistic society. They don't fear death, They aim to incure as much carnage, chaos and death to their enemy's as they can before they die. You would be lucky to get them to betray a lifetime of beliefs even using these techniques. I know that because I have met them, I've taken them prisoner. But if you want to waterboard drug dealers to get some drugs off the streets then yes I have a problem with that. But comparing the two is like apples and oranges.

Former Marine

I wonder if any of the terrorists from 9/11 thought for a quick second is this too much? Are we going too far? But how much further could they have gone? Is death not the END? How many families did they leave without a father, without a mother, child, grand-mother, grand-father, etc... Innocent blood was shed for no reasons what so ever. Now we ask if we are going too far for justice. Serving what is right to the actual terrorists, to prevent further innocent blood spilling, no; it isn't too far it simply isn't enough. Is this not what they want, what they have been created to live for? These terrorists live and breathe danger, they are prepared for death with ever single heart beat they have. Non-like us their children, wives, and husbands are ready to possibly never hear or see each other again, therefore, there is no emotional torture... the physical torture, in my opinion, is not enough. Greater than the physical pain our fellow Americans felt that day, is the emotional pain that still lingers till this day. That wound will never heal, so why let their wounds heal? Sleepless nights will go away and be forgotten after they sleep. Taking their breath away will pass with the first breath they take right after. Though our pain won't go away by hurting these terrorists, but if it helps prevent any further pain to us either physically or emotionally, I'm sure it’ll help in the long run.

@russ-–"The reason we don’t is because it’s not humane and deep down inside we all know that" ARE YOU CRAZY? So you think it not right to do these types of things to a terrorists?? You got any better ideas on how to get American life saving info from them?? lets hear it good buddy?

The bleeding heart ACLU needs to get a reality check. Maybe they need to research what REAL torture is! Better yet – it would be really great if THEY would go over to these lovely anti-american countries and try to "talk" with the terrorists. GET A CLUE! These are NOT torture techniques! I wouldnt lose the first bit of sleep over these radicals losing their heads, body parts or being subjected to REAL torture like they do to our people! I have a heart for MY COUNTRY and MY PEOPLE not the terrorist! The ACLU must be in bed with the terrorists, so it sounds.

Army Persian Gulf Vet and PROUD of IT!!!

every country does it weather they admit it or not. i feel they should let it go.if most people in america really knew what went on then they have something to talk about!!!!!

as for cheny/bush they OWE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AN APOLOGY!!
for running the country into the ground, for putting us in a war that we
WERE LIED TOO!!! how they can sleep at night boggles my mind.
i hope one day they have to answer to the american people.

As a Veteran, while in the service, We learned that the Geneva Canvention did not apply to non uniformend combatants and were were warned that if we were captured out of uniform we could be tried be a foreign government as a spy. Spies did not have Geneva Convention Rights. So this would also , in my mind, apply to the terrorists who don't wear uniforms and don't have country of orgin identification. Waterboarding methods have been approved by congress and we are well within our rights to administer what has been approved

The ACLU and others, like the Democrats, who are pushing for prosecution should get their heads screwed on right. They should be in the business of protecting American Citizens not protecting terriost.

If the terrorist captured one of our soldiers they would not be so kind. They take limbs and things unbelievable to our minds as Americans. One is right to say "two wrongs don't make a right", but if one is talking about torturing one life to save thousands to save our own citizens, then our people have to do what they have to do. I feel bettr knowing they are willing to do whatever needs to be done to protect me and my family.

I believe we are overly negative concerning the tactics used to draw out crital information after 9-11. If we stopped one bombing, or saved one us soldier, it was worth it. Simply put, the ends justofies the means. We as a nation need to get over the bleeding heart weakness and get on with the business of protecting the USA, our citizens and our allies, no matter what. Thank you, Phil Hollenbeck

Its straight torture which could not prevent another 9/11. How when you have the agitators already captive? But it could be very effective in obtaining information. Its inhumane despite the actions of another person.

The gov. and Bush did what it had to do....

Regardless if it was torture or not, Whats the use of of agreeing with the Geneva Convention if you arent going to follow it, even though those one is at war with doesnt.

The interrogation methods did not go too far. Remember, we are dealing with terrorists, people who want to destroy us, our country, and all we hold dear. Essential information about terrorist cells was gained during the interrogations, information that prevented further attacks on our country. Thank God the president gave an executive order to halt the release of the memos. This would certainly have jeopardized our soldiers and our national security had they gone out. And since when does the ACLU have the right to defend and protect foreign terrorists? This sounds treasonous. They need to focus on issues that address grievances of US citizens.

I think the CIA is truthful in what they are saying. I can't believe that we are making this such a big issue at government when we have so many every day problems in the USA. So many problems with so many families and the terriost and the way we treated them. What about all these Americans being cheated and worn down from no jobs no health put still trying hard to hold there head high why big companies cheat the every day American working for them and not asking help from the government when they did nothing wrong at companies and still get fired for no reason. STOP GREED