How Experts In Brutality Became CIA's Tutors Of Torture

New York Times:

Jim Mitchell and Bruce Jessen were military retirees and psychologists, on the lookout for business opportunities. They found an excellent customer in the Central Intelligence Agency, where in 2002 they became the architects of the most important interrogation program in the history of American counterterrorism.

They had never carried out a real interrogation, only mock sessions in the military training they had overseen. They had no relevant scholarship; their Ph.D. dissertations were on high blood pressure and family therapy. They had no language skills and no expertise on Al Qaeda.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[TopProf]

APA as an organization has lost its integrity. I have to question my colleagues who remain members.

[MikeRdg]

If you do some checking you will find a few psychologist have thrown their weight around in the APA and got anyone and everyone in trouble for questioning Mormon people. More than likely one of the problems.

[Bobzmcishl]

Pretty scary sh-- that the CIA would hire such people and expose the entire country to ridicule and condemnation.

[Jaybot]

It's so nice to see two of the Mormon brethren doing what they can to buck the stereotype. Hey, even Judge Bybee and Timothy Flanigan were willing to help out, good on ya. Torture, maybe it's the 14th Article of Faith?

[rf dude]

Wearers of the Blue Undies, eh?

They musta got lots of practice while trying to make sense out of the Book of M...
--

[MikeRdg]

They will be hired next at LDS Social Services

[IWantTofu]

And the head of FEMA under Bush used to head up the Arabian Horse ASSociation as his qualifications for that job.

[jjgg5]

Why haven't Mitchell and Jessen's licenses to practice psychology been revoked by the American Psychological Association for their blatant ethical violations?

[surfcitysteven]

Why haven't they been charged for their part in committing war crimes? Why are these horrible monsters allowed to walk the same sidewalks and be amongst human beings?

[AntiClast]

One of the torture 'docs' is quoted as saying:
"I’m sure you will find all manner of ‘experts’ who will be willing to make up what you’d like to hear on the spot and unrestrained by reality.”
Was he referring to somebody else?

[rh11]

This story takes on its full meaning in light of the long history of U.S. torture, an excellent summary of which can be found in historian Alfred McCoy's "A Question of Torture," and also in light of the long history of U.S. psychology's (and particularly the APA's) deep involvement with the U.S. military, its largest single sponsor, a summary of which can be found in historian Ellen Herman's "The Romance of American Psychology."

Also, for more context on the issue of psychologists' involvement in torture, please visit:

Psychologists for an Ethical APA: www.ethicalapa.com
Stephen Soldz's blog: www.psychoanalystsopposewar.org/blog
Valtin's blog: www.valtinsblog.blogspot.com

Learn about how the APA wrote the "Nuremberg Defense" (no culpability for those following orders) into its own Ethics Code (Provision 1.02) in 2002. Learn how it created a Task Force on "Psychological Ethics and National Security" in 2005 to set its policy around psychologists' participation in interrogations, and then stacked the task force with over 2/3 military psychologists, among whom were Drs. Larry James and Morgan Banks. Learn who these 2 are, as they arguably have a much larger role in this story than do Mitchell & Jessen, as nasty as the latters' work certainly is.

[mergina]

Isn't it great to know we are all in such good hands?

[bronceye]

These two are an example of the Small Business men and enterpenuers that bush talked about. Even if you're psychotic, you can still make a good living. Just capitalism, nothing personal.

[Ascoli]

The USA is........................no more.

[DinahMoeHum]

Here's hoping somebody puts a Mafia-style contract on those two mofos.
Becuase if AG Holder doesn't do something, maybe private citizens should.

[Telemachus]

They bill themselves as professionals. I think they would look much better in neckties.

[surfcitysteven]

I was sure if I posted these sentiments it wouldn't have made it through. Yes!

[plaidsportcoat]

"Not only the F.B.I. agents but also C.I.A. officers at the scene were uneasy about the harsh treatment. "

This is the most chilling part of the article. h

For example, how would YOU feel if you were NOT GUILTY, hauled in by the USA military or WHOEVER, and tortured six ways to Wednesday? It DOES happen. Look it up, it's public.
And then the most the people in charge could muster, when they saw you being tortured by your and their countrymen, is unease. A very, very SECRET unease.

[MikeRdg]

But the Mormon Mafia was in control.

[plaidsportcoat]

praise the lord and pass the ammo

[StillAmused]

This article should be jammed in AG Holder's teeth... DAILY.

Either the law applies or it doesn't.

If the latter, get ready for one doozy of a lawn party.

[kindGSL]

If the law doesn't apply, then lawlessness does.

I think I just figured out some of the media spin on this. The media is deathly afraid of populism, so they deny it.

But by denying it, they deny us fair representation, only making us into a more frightening mob. Media is on a self destructive feedback loop they seem unable to get off of.

[Rog49Thomas]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

[ibisko]

chapman university,
rasmussen polls,
alberto gonzalez,
debased studies,
happy meals,
faux spirutuality/morality
wars on all things non constructive-
part of a larger cynical strategy, all dilutions of potential for economic gain.
pj barnum to the max.

[kareemachan]

...and hypocrisy to the utmost max.

[kindGSL]

The war on Christmas was also created by a marketing group. Does Billo know? Does he know he was played by a right wing astroturf lobbyist group?

Wow, that must be embarrassing. Or was the war on Christmas all his idea in the first place?

For 'ratings'.