Secret memo reveals Bush was given 'humane,' 'legal' alternative to harsh interrogations in 2005

[kpete]

Source: Raw Story

Secret memo reveals Bush was given humane, legal alternative to harsh interrogation

By John Byrne

Published: May 18, 2009



The Bush administration was given clear and unequivocal advice encouraging a detainee interrogation system that followed humane practices that adhered to US and international law, a previously secret memo reveals.

A detailed memorandum authored by a counselor to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2005 also reveals that the Bush Administration was offered a comprehensive alternative to its use of torture techniques. The author, Rice deputy Philip Zelikow (along with then-acting deputy secretary of defense Gordon England), asserted that the adoption of a clear and humane approach to interrogation would pay dividends for the US in the years to come.

The memo was published Thursday at Secrecy News, a blog written by secrecy expert Steven Aftergood. It can be read here in PDF form.
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2009/05/detainee_interrogation.html
http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2009_hr/elements.pdf

Zelikow acknowledged an argument frequently promulgated by former Vice President Dick Cheney — that the interrogation of detainees could save thousands of lives. But he argued that humane treatment was the only right course for the United States.

Read more: http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/05/18/secret-memo-reveals-bush-was-given-humane-legal-alternative-to-harsh-interrogation/

[ixion]

1. yeah, but why do something humane and legal when you can make torture porn

and, ultimately, snuff flicks.

Just another day at the office for BushCo.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. This should be the media's top story. Prosecute Bush and Cheney NOW!

[phantom power]

3. You can't extract false confessions with humane interrogation methods.

This is all bullshit. We've had humane interrogation practices going back at least to WWII. Everybody knew about them, and knew from long experience that they work better. The only thing torture is "good" for is extracting false confessions. And now we know it adds up perfectly, because false confessions are exactly what they wanted.

[Vehl]

5. exactly!

they wanted false confirmations to support the Iraq war.
and the only way they were going to get is through waterboarding people till they decided to tell whatever answer the investigators were looking for.

in this case, WMD and an Iraq-alqauida connection

[SpiralHawk]

4. "We're republicons. We don't do humane. Smirk." -xCommander AWOL (R)

"We also don't do honesty, integrity, or competence. So get over it. Smirk."

- xCommander AWOL (R)

[rateyes]

6. Well, I agree with the memo where it talks about prosecuting war criminals.

Especially the ones who used to live in the White House.

[jazzjunkysue]

7. Hurting those prisoners made them feel powerful. They didn't want alternatives.

They didn't want the truth, either.

The B* crime family got everything it wanted, except a respectable legacy.

This is how it always works with the B* crime family, and all crime families.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. But what fun would that be?

:shrug: Enough of a counterargument to kill the whole idea for Bu**sh**.

[defendandprotect]

9. In fac,t the guy who headed SERE told them NOT to use waterboarding . . .!!!