Exclusive: CIA Nominee Had Detailed Knowledge of "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques"

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

Exclusive: CIA nominee had detailed knowledge of "enhanced interrogation techniques"

WASHINGTON | Wed Jan 30, 2013 1:13am EST

By Mark Hosenball

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - John Brennan, President Barack Obama's nominee to head the CIA, had detailed, contemporaneous knowledge of the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" on captured terrorism suspects during an earlier stint as a top spy agency official, according to multiple sources familiar with official records.

Those records, the sources said, show that Brennan was a regular recipient of CIA message traffic about controversial aspects of the agency's counter-terrorism program after September 2001, including the use of "waterboarding."

How deeply involved Brennan was in the program, and whether he vigorously objected to it at the time, as he has said he did, are likely to be central questions lawmakers raise at his Senate Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing, scheduled for February 7.

After Brennan temporarily left government service in 2005, he publicly disavowed waterboarding, a form of simulated drowning, and other physically painful techniques that are often described as torture.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE90T07I20130130

[malthaussen]

1. "other physically painful techniques that are often described as torture."

Ah, weasel words. Makes you wonder just what "torture" is, doesn't it?

I didn't think so.

-- Mal

[grahamhgreen]

2. And the term "through an 'extralegal' process called "extraordinary rendition." ILLEGAL, TORTURE,

WAR CRIMES,

Nothing less.

And those who defend it are fighting for the wrong side. Cheney's "dark side, if you will". AKA evil.

[PSPS]

3. Why won't Obama shake himself loose of Bush's cabal of war criminals?

[Solly Mack]

4. K&R

[forestpath]

5. I really want to know why Pres. Obama admires Republican criminals so much.

[Sunlei]

7. One of the first mandates Pres. O did was to stop the torture.

[forestpath]

8. Yet his DOJ is prosecuting John Kiriakou for exposing CIA torture.

[Sunlei]

9. not sure why the DOJ is prosecuting. Did he release classified info?

That the Bush reign tortured seemed like it was public knowledge forever.

[magical thyme]

10. they are claiming he did, but he was denied opportunity to defend himself

Just heard him in an interview. Judge listened to Prosecutors in private, who had claimed "something 4" which meant it was national security, so even his Attorney was not allowed to hear. The Judge then denied 75 defense motions without even bothering to hear them. Essentially, he was denied the right to any defense and forced to plea.

And no, he didn't. Furthermore, in the interview his lawyer made a point of saying the the government itself leaks classified information with impunity, and did so to help the making of Zero Dark Thirty. I wasn't interested in seeing that movie before. Now I will deliberately avoid it as a piece of pro-torture propaganda that tries to make torture instrumental to getting bin Laden.

Also heard an interview with Brennan saying in essence that torture is ok in certain circumstances because people in Iraq and other countries we're dealing with do it.

Made me sick. Had to turn it off.

[Sunlei]

6. I didn't know he left the Gov in 2005 & publicly disavowed waterboarding,any others do that in 2005?

wonder why he left in 2005.