Haynes, Torture And The Wages Of Euphemism
Jul 31, 2020198.4K Shares3.2M Views
Graham brought out the parade of horribles for what the 2005 Schmidt-Furlow report found was done to al-Qaeda member Mohammed al-Qatani at Guantanamo. They made Qatani pray to an “idol shrine,” Graham read, and “had a dog used” in the interrogation. “Is it your testimony that neither Secretary Rumsfeld nor yourself ever approved of that?”
Haynes: “I tell you today that neither the secretary of defense had any knowledge of that, nor did I.” He doesn’t seem to understand this proves Reed’s point. By providing unclear, euphemistic guidance to interrogators, of coursethey’re going to go further than what Rumsfeld “intended.” And then Rumsfeld and Haynes plead that they’re shocked, shocked by what happened.
For instance, the previous round of testimony specified that waterboarding was specifically up for discussion in 2002 and 2003 at the highest levels of the Pentagon. Haynes said first that it was referred to as “the wet-towel” technique, then added, “I’ve never really understood what that technique was.”
“It is clear to me we created confusion for those serving this country,” said a frustrated Graham.
Rhyley Carney
Reviewer
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