Torture as Public Policy: Restoring U.S. Credibility on the World StageAfter September 11, 2001 the Bush Administration decided that the most important intelligence about terrorism would come from the interrogation of captives suspected of terrorism. As a result, many detainees were subject to harsh interrogation techniques that at times amounted to torture. Here, James P. Pfiffner authoritatively examines the policy directives, operational decisions, and leadership actions of the Bush Administration that reversed centuries of US policy on the treatment of enemy prisoners. He shows how the serious reservations of career military lawyers about these policies were overcome by the political appointees of the Bush Administration. Pfiffner then analyses the philosophical and legal underpinnings of the policies and practices that have led to the denunciation of the United States' policies by its allies and adversaries throughout the world. Looking ahead, Pfiffner anticipates Obama administration policy changes to restore U.S. credibility and accountability. In all, Torture as Public Policy is a model of detailed policy analysis that demonstrates how greatly public policy matters beyond the back corridors of bureaucracy. |
Contents
Policymaking on Torture | 13 |
The Implementation of Policy | 45 |
Moral and Behavioral Issues | 83 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
Torture As Public Policy: Restoring U.S. Credibility on the World Stage James P. Pfiffner Limited preview - 2015 |
Torture As Public Policy: Restoring U.S. Credibility on the World Stage James P. Pfiffner Limited preview - 2015 |
Torture as Public Policy: Restoring U.S. Credibility on the World Stage James P. Pfiffner No preview available - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
Abu Ghraib Abu Zubaydah abuse and torture actions Afghanistan al Qaeda Alberto allowed amount to torture approved argued Army Field Manual authorized Bagram bomb scenario Bush administration Bush's Bybee memo captured chain of command Chapter civilian command responsibility Common Article Congress Constitution Counsel crimes criminal CSRT David Addington December decision Deputy Detention enemy combatants executive extraordinary rendition Geneva Conventions Gonzales Greenberg and Dratel habeas corpus Hamdan harsh interrogation techniques Haynes ibid international law interrogation policies Iraq issued January John Yoo Justice lawyers military intelligence Mora Office of Legal Padilla person President Bush prisoners prosecution Qaeda Report Secretary of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld SERE stress positions suspected Tactics Taguba Taliban terror terrorists ticking time bomb tion Torture Papers Torture Team treated treatment of detainees U.S. forces U.S. law U.S. personnel United Vice President Cheney war on terror Washington Post waterboarding White House York Zubaydah