The "Holy Grail" Of Torture Reports

This is for those Republicans demanding that the administration declassify more relevant materials about torture: the CIA Inspector General report - "this report is the 'holy grail,' because it is expected to detail torture in unprecedented detail and to cast doubt on the claim that torture works."

According to excerpts included in those memos, the inspector general's report concluded that interrogators initially used harsh techniques against some detainees who were not withholding information. Officials familiar with its contents said it also concluded that some of the techniques appeared to violate the U.N. Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, ratified by the United States in 1994.

Although some useful information was produced, the report concluded that "it is difficult to determine conclusively whether interrogations have provided information critical to interdicting specific imminent attacks," according to the Justice Department's declassified summary of it.

It's a one step forward, three steps back policy for torture. What ever "success" you try to claim, you have made countless people and their relatives lifelong enemies. When that hatred boils over will that undermine the "success"?

Plus, building a prison like Guantanamo was an International symbol for torture that threw out America's values and put service people in harm's way.

Remember as you read all these reports that this was an Administration that said,"we do not torture". Just as with WMD, it's a constant changing invalid justification that never supports the original compromise to our democracy.