Torture from Afghanistan to Iraq: ‘A Playbook from the Dark Ages’
Click here for Full Issue of EIR Volume 35, Number 14, April 4, 2008 Torture from Afghanistan to Iraq: ‘A Playbook from the Dark Ages’ On March 8, President Bush, acting under the direct influence EIR’s Pentagon correspondent Carl Osgood and EIR Law of Vice President Cheney, vetoed the Intelligence Authoriza- Editor Edward Spannaus participated in that Feb. 29 telecon- tion bill, which would have banned torture by the CIA, or any ference, which was sponsored by Human Rights First. A few civilian agency. The vetoed bill prohibited any methods of in- days later, Spannaus interviewed filmmaker Alex Gibney. Ex- terrogation beyond those permitted by the Army Field Manual cerpts of that interview follow. on Intelligence Collection—which experienced military in- terrogators say is all that is needed, no matter what the cir- cumstances. Eight days earlier, a conference call urging the President Interview: Alex Gibney to sign the Intelligence Authorization bill, with its anti-torture provision, was held by two retired U.S. Army generals, Lt. Alex Gibney is the director and Gen. Harry Soyster (former director of the Defense Intelli- co-producer of “Taxi to the gence Agency), and Maj. Gen. William Nash (former U.S. Dark Side,” which won the commander in Bosnia-Herzegovina), who were joined by for- Academy Award for the Best mer National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane, and Alex Documentary Feature of 2007. Gibney, the Oscar-winning filmmaker of “Taxi to the Dark His previous credits include Side” (reviewed in the March 7 issue of EIR). “Enron: the Smartest Guys in General Soyster, the former DIA head, noted that he is the Room,” which was nomi- part of a group of 44 retired combat commanders who had nated for an Academy Award sent a letter to Congress urging passage of the Army Field for 2005.
[Show full text]