Waterboarding
Waterboarding is an interrogation technique that involves the simulated drowning of a subject to elicit information, often categorized by many as a form of torture. Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, the CIA employed waterboarding as part of its interrogation methods against al-Qaeda operatives. This practice drew significant media attention and public scrutiny, particularly after it was revealed that high-profile captives, such as Abu Zubaydah and Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, had undergone the procedure multiple times. While proponents argued that waterboarding yielded critical intelligence and potentially thwarted future terrorist threats, critics highlighted the risks of false confessions and questioned the ethical implications of using such harsh methods. In 2009, President Barack Obama signed an executive order prohibiting waterboarding and similar techniques, emphasizing the need to adhere to international human rights standards. The use of waterboarding has had lasting repercussions on the United States' international reputation, particularly in the Islamic world, where it is viewed negatively. The debate surrounding this technique continues to evoke strong opinions regarding national security, human rights, and the moral boundaries of interrogation practices.
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Waterboarding
After the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States in 2001, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) adopted interrogation methods that were designed to extract information from al-Qaeda operatives. One of those techniques, waterboarding, while effective was considered by many to be a form of torture. Once its use by US authorities became public, waterboarding fueled a strong reaction in the media.
In 2002, Assistant Attorney General Jay S. Bybee signed a memorandum that approved certain interrogation procedures to be used against members of al-Qaeda. One of these procedures was waterboarding. In 2008, CIA Director Michael V. Hayden confirmed that waterboarding was used by his agency on three al-Qaeda captives from 2002 through 2003: Abu Zubaydah, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri. Zubaydah had been subjected to the method 83 times and Mohammed 183 times. Hayden stated that the method had not been used again since that period. The use of the procedure was personally endorsed by President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, who remained proponents of waterboarding even after the torture accusations were made public.
In response to the backlash against the interrogation technique, Bush administration officials claimed that by waterboarding Zubaydah, he provided information leading to the capture of Mohammed, and waterboarding Mohammed helped prevent future terror attacks. Many experts on torture, however, have stated that the harshness of the interrogation method has the potential to lead to false confessions and fabricated terror plots in order to avoid continued or further suffering.
In January of 2009, President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13491, which effectively banned the use of any questionable interrogation methods, including waterboarding. The order revoked any privileges and loopholes left by the Bush administration that allowed the CIA to use such methods, which was meant to ensure full compliance with international treaty obligations regarding the treatment of individuals in custody.
Impact
The news that the CIA, backed by the Bush administration, had used waterboarding in order to extract intelligence from captured al-Qaeda members resulted in a largely negative impact on the international image of the United States, especially in the Islamic world. Although most people seemed to consider the harsh interrogation method a form of torture, many high-ranking government officials and political figures felt its use was justified when put in perspective of the potential lives that would be saved if the technique garnered information on future terrorist attacks on the United States or its allies. Intending to distance himself many of the previous administration's decisions, President Obama adopted a firm stance against waterboarding early in his first term.
Bibliography
Bybee, Jay S. “Interrogation of al Qaeda Operative.” US Department of Justice. Federation of American Scientists, 1 Aug. 2002. Web. 5 Dec. 2012.
Hassner, Ron E. "What Do We Know About Interrogational Torture?" International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, vol. 33, no. 1, 2020, pp. 4-42, doi.org/10.1080/08850607.2019.1660951. Accessed 22 May 2024.
Karl, Jonathan. “‘This Week’ Transcript: Former Vice President Dick Cheney.” ABC. ABC News Network, 14 Feb. 2010. Web. 5 Dec. 2012.
Thompson, Mark, and Bobby Ghosh. “Did Waterboarding Prevent Terrorism Attacks?” Time. Time Inc, 21 Apr. 2009. Web. 5 Dec. 2012.
Winter, Jeff. "Two New York State Prison Inmates Say They Were Waterboarded, Beaten by Guards." CNN, 10 Jan. 2024, www.cnn.com/2024/01/10/us/new-york-state-prison-inmates-waterboard-lawsuit/index.html. Accessed 22 May 2024.