Levin: Torture Is Counterproductive To Intelligence-Gathering

And we’re underway. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said the hearing will explore how interrogation-resistance training — known as SERE training — used by U.S. Special Forces trainers, "reverse engineered" the techniques for use on terrorism detainees. He said their use is counterproductive for collecting intelligence.

"Does degrading [detainees] or treating them harshly increase their chances of getting them to help?" Levin asked. According to a military interrogator Levin said he spoke with in Afghanistan, "Treating them harshly is an impediment… to getting intelligence from them."

More Levin: the administration "twisted the law to create the appearance of legality" for torture. Haynes is in for a long day.