Rachel Polster
On Thursday, a Bush-era interrogation memo was released and stated that tactics such as waterboarding, sleep deprivation and slapping did not violate laws against torture since there wasn't an intent to cause sever pain. The former Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee said that the absence of specific intent negates the charge of torture. These interrogation tactics were used in the case of suspected al Qaeda leader Abu Zubaydah. The memo allowed for Zubaydah to be kept in the dark in a small confined place and then putting an insect in his box because he has a fear of insects. However the memo says that Zubaydah was informed that the insect's sting would not be fatal or cause severe pain. Other tatics include keeping the detainee naked, forcing a liquid diet, or waterboarding which gives a person the sensation of drowning. The CIA agreed that such tactics should only be used under expert supervision. Obama prohibited the use of such techniques shortly after taking office because he said hey undermine moral authority and do not make us safer. He agreed for the memos to be released because he believes 'strongly in transparency and accountability' and he pledged to ensure that these actions never take place again.
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