Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

New book exposes CIA abhorrent rendition and torture program

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 Apr 2022 15:18
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

The author of the book "The Forever Prisoner" links the CIA torture program to the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

  • x
  • New book exposes CIA rendition and torture program
    The book focuses on a Guantanamo prisoner, Abu Zubaydah, who was severely tortured (AFP)

In the US' early days of its so-called "war on terror," senior intelligence officials convened in a clandestine meeting of the top brass of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to debate what to do with detainees exposed to rendition and "enhanced interrogation techniques."

After considering several possibilities such as detaining them, moving them to another country, and prosecuting them, one senior official remarked, "Why don't we just kill them?"

Read more: CIA prison in Lithuania where inmates were tortured to be sold

 

The specifics of the meeting were disclosed on Monday during a virtual panel discussion with author and journalist Cathy Scott Clark, whose book The Forever Prisoner provides an in-depth look at the CIA's notorious torture program.

Clarks's book is to be released later this week and focuses on the story of Guantanamo inmate Abu Zubaydah, who was questioned using torture tactics such as being waterboarded 83 times in one month, suspended nude from a ceiling, and deprived of sleep for 11 days in a row.

Lithuania has paid more than $110,000 to Abu Zubaydah, the "forever prisoner" at Guantánamo, in compensation for allowing the CIA to hold him at a secret site outside Vilnius where he was tortured.

Abu Zubaydah was held for more than 20 years by the US without charge.

It covers a variety of facets of the CIA's rendition operation, including interviews with numerous high military and intelligence personnel conducted by Clark.

Related News

Cholera devastates Darfur region amid conflict, US aid cuts

US uses tariffs to strongarm India on Russia ties

After interviewing numerous masterminds behind the torture operations, including James Mitchell, Clark stated that her overall feeling was that it "sort of became like a pack mentality - that everybody was in it together," adding that  "if someone were to say who's responsible should someone be prosecuted, I don't think you can point to any one person."

The US justified its torture of inmates by claiming that its campaign was targeted at finding "Terrorists" responsible for the 9/11 attacks in order to prevent further attacks on US soil.

However, civil society groups have stated that many of Washington's actions, including rendition and "enhanced interrogation techniques" - which the Senate ruled amounted to torture in a historic report - are unlawful under international law.

Abuses in the US military definitely and absolutely present

Clark also revealed, despite US officials' denials, that there is a link between the creators of the CIA's torture program, such as Mitchell, and the torture that occurred at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison, where detainees endured physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, including the use of electric shock and mock executions.

Clark proclaimed that one thing she put together was that " the CIA's enhanced interrogation program absolutely, definitely led to abuses in the US military as well."

She added that "The same people... were involved in putting together training programs, training materials, training the CIA, training interrogators to go to Guantanamo, training interrogators at Bagram, and then interrogators who went to Abu Ghraib."

The author concluded by stating that Mitchell could deny the blame for the abuses that took place at the Abu Ghraib prison but he must accept the responsibility that he "Created something that got out of control."

Guantanamo Bay sustained brain damage after serving as CIA live prop

Last month, newly declassified reports detailed how Ammar Al-Baluchi, also known as Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, is currently being held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba and was subjected to excessive torture at the hands of CIA interrogators who used him as a live prop, a training tool for employees learning the agency's cruel and illegal practice for years.

Al-Baluchi suffered from brain damage after being exploited as a live prop for trainee interrogators at a secret CIA black site in Afghanistan for years, newly declassified documents revealed.

The military prison in Cuba -- created after the September 2001 attacks to house detainees in the US so-called "war on terror"-- is still operating despite international and local calls to close it.

A group of UN experts has repeatedly urged Washington to finally close the site of "unrelenting human rights violations."

  • United States
  • torture
  • CIA

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS