Reuters.com | CIA Halts Use of Harsh Interrogation Ploys- Report

"The CIA has stopped using interrogation techniques such as 'stress positions,' sleep deprivation and denial of pain medication while the Bush administration reviews their legality, The Washington Post said Sunday.

'The whole thing's been stopped until we can sort out whether we are sure we are on legal ground,' the Post quoted a former senior CIA official as saying.

The newspaper said the so-called enhanced interrogation techniques have been used in questioning al Qaeda leaders. The suspension applies to CIA detention facilities around the world."

It seems surprising, and not very believable, to see the CIA talk about "legality" in its actions, as if the CIA could really give a hoot about legality. Furthermore, the report mentions that the "techniques" were "White House approved", which is definitely pointing fingers.

So much for the suprises. Now for the unsurprising, but nonetheless important, questions: 1) Over and above "legal", is torture ethical? 2) Is it efficient? 3) Hasn't the image of the USA in the world been seriously eroded, even from its current low point, by the torture scandal? 4) What would we say about our soldiers and political leaders being captured and tortured?

If you want to know from whence came these "enhanced techniques", this clue is in the article:

"According to the newspaper, the enhanced interrogation techniques were approved by lawyers from the Justice Department and National Security Council in 2002 and required permission from the CIA director for use."

Thank you Bubba Rice and Bubba Ashcroft!