We knew and we knew years ago. Anyone who has been paying attention has known for a long time that the CIA committed appalling acts of brutality in the years after 9/11. Anyone who paid attention has also long known that the agency’s torture regime – not too strong a way of putting it – produced very little in the way of useful intelligence. It was sadism masquerading as detective work; depravity disguising impotence and, in the end, the kind of programme that shames a nation.
There are still some people who think it fine and dandy, still some people who think it’s a lot of fuss over not very much. Still too many people who lack the courage to confront the truth. But we know better than that. We know the truth. The Senate Intelligence Committee’s report into the CIA’s interrogation programme is damning. In a just world prosecutions would follow. Alas, I am not sure the United States is ready for that.
And we know it is torture because we know how we would react if British or American citizens were subjected to the kind of treatment outlined in the report.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in