Democrat: Pentagon sought abusive interrogations
Democrat: Pentagon sought abusive interrogations
By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer 13 minutes ago
Military officials tasked with training U.S. troops to evade enemy interrogations helped Pentagon lawyers devise a list of abusive tactics that could be used in prisons like Guantanamo Bay, a top Senate Democrat said Tuesday.
Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said the harsh techniques were pursued despite strong objections in November 2002 by the military's uniformed lawyers.
"If we use those same techniques offensively against detainees, it says to the world that they have America's stamp of approval," said Levin, D-Mich. "That puts our troops at greater risk of being abused if they're captured. It also weakens our moral authority and harms our efforts to attract allies to our side in the fight against terrorism."
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By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer 13 minutes ago
Military officials tasked with training U.S. troops to evade enemy interrogations helped Pentagon lawyers devise a list of abusive tactics that could be used in prisons like Guantanamo Bay, a top Senate Democrat said Tuesday.
Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said the harsh techniques were pursued despite strong objections in November 2002 by the military's uniformed lawyers.
"If we use those same techniques offensively against detainees, it says to the world that they have America's stamp of approval," said Levin, D-Mich. "That puts our troops at greater risk of being abused if they're captured. It also weakens our moral authority and harms our efforts to attract allies to our side in the fight against terrorism."
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