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The Forever Prisoner: The Full and Searing Account of the CIA’s Most Controversial Covert Program
A monumental feat of investigative reporting on a subject of vital national interest and importance today: the first full and comprehensive account of the most divisive clandestine operation in living memory—America’s torture program known as “enhanced interrogation,” instituted by the CIA following 9/11
Six months after 9/11, CIA and FBI agents captured Abu Zubaydah, mistakenly believed to be number three in the al Qaeda hierarchy. Frantic to thwart a much-feared second attack, the U.S. rendered him to a hastily constructed black site in Thailand. There he collided with Air Force psychologist James Mitchell. Believing Abu Zubaydah had been trained to resist interrogation, Mitchell and others were authorized to use enhanced techniques, including water boarding, that would have violated the Geneva Conventions, international rules and treaties, and U.S. law had government lawyers not rewritten the human rights rulebook. The program metastasized over seven years, encompassing dozens of prisoners and multiple black sites. Ultimately, the U.S. Senate judged it was torture. As a result, numerous prisoners remain in Guantanamo, never charged with a crime because their trial would reveal the brutality they experienced.
Based on four years of intensive reporting around the world, on multiple interviews with key protagonists who speak candidly for the first time, and on thousands of previously classified documents recently released by FOIA requests, The Forever Prisoner is a powerful chronicle of a shocking government initiative that continues to influence policy to this day, and remains an existential threat to the CIA. Scott-Clark and Levy recount dramatic scenes inside black sites and lawyers’ offices through the eyes of those who were there and trace the twisted legal arguments to justify the program, extending to the highest echelons of government, which in the end produced zero high-value intelligence. Instead, it encouraged retaliation by terrorists abroad.
A primary source for the feature-length documentary of the same title by Alex Gibney to appear on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, The Forever Prisoner is as dramatic in the telling as it is consequential in its impact.
Six months after 9/11, CIA and FBI agents captured Abu Zubaydah, mistakenly believed to be number three in the al Qaeda hierarchy. Frantic to thwart a much-feared second attack, the U.S. rendered him to a hastily constructed black site in Thailand. There he collided with Air Force psychologist James Mitchell. Believing Abu Zubaydah had been trained to resist interrogation, Mitchell and others were authorized to use enhanced techniques, including water boarding, that would have violated the Geneva Conventions, international rules and treaties, and U.S. law had government lawyers not rewritten the human rights rulebook. The program metastasized over seven years, encompassing dozens of prisoners and multiple black sites. Ultimately, the U.S. Senate judged it was torture. As a result, numerous prisoners remain in Guantanamo, never charged with a crime because their trial would reveal the brutality they experienced.
Based on four years of intensive reporting around the world, on multiple interviews with key protagonists who speak candidly for the first time, and on thousands of previously classified documents recently released by FOIA requests, The Forever Prisoner is a powerful chronicle of a shocking government initiative that continues to influence policy to this day, and remains an existential threat to the CIA. Scott-Clark and Levy recount dramatic scenes inside black sites and lawyers’ offices through the eyes of those who were there and trace the twisted legal arguments to justify the program, extending to the highest echelons of government, which in the end produced zero high-value intelligence. Instead, it encouraged retaliation by terrorists abroad.
A primary source for the feature-length documentary of the same title by Alex Gibney to appear on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, The Forever Prisoner is as dramatic in the telling as it is consequential in its impact.
452 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2022
42 people are currently reading
1003 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Scott-Clark
14 books39 followersCathy Scott-Clark is a British journalist and author. She has worked with the Sunday Times and The Guardian. She has co-authored six books with Adrian Levy.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 19, 2022
This book is hard to review. It’s written well, but not the kind of book for me, I guess is what I’m trying to say. It’s full of a lot communication I’m not really familiar with, but I did understand. It’s a disturbing one for me because I don’t like to think this happened. I believe our government, at the time, especially after 9/11, wanted to capture whomever did this horrible thing to innocent Americans. And they got carried away with how they did it and how they found information on who did it. And it led to these happenings in this book, if this is true. I always when I read a book try to realize this is someone’s writing of how things happened, in their view, but it’s very well researched and there’s a ton of information on it and they even interviewed a lot of parties that were involved in the interrogation process of this detainee and other detainees. So it seems on the up and up. This was a hard book to read and process. And many things done that I don’t agree with. I know war is complicated and many things happen in interrogating prisoners, but our country and other countries are against torture. We don’t want our soldiers tortured. We hate it. And we must do what’s right, I believe. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review #TheForeverPrisoner with my own thoughts and opinions.
March 24, 2023
This was a fantastic book and one that intrigued me from the very start. I saw its cover page in a bookstore while on vacation and knew it was right up my alley, as I frequently consume books about the U.S. government's wrongdoings. I had no trouble starting this book, as the beginning was enthralling and beautifully set the scene for the rest of the story.
Not only was the story itself fascinating and horrifying, but the depths to which the authors went while writing this book were truly impressive. I don't know that I have ever read a book packed with so much information. There were interviews from CIA interrogators and staffers as well as War on Terror detainees and prisoners. I cannot imagine how much time the authors must have spent gathering information and sources, and their dedication shows in this book.
I especially liked how the contrast between the CIA and the detainees was painted; the authors would follow up a quote from a CIA psychologist denying involvement in torturous interrogation techniques with a condemning quotes from a detainee about their suffering while in U.S. captivity. I was absolutely appalled at the treatment of detainees and the lengths their torturers went to minimize and belittle their suffering. I found it particularly powerful when the authors contrasted CIA interrogators' luxury purchases of homes, boats, and cars with the daily seizures, panic attacks, and pains the detainees faced in their daily lives.
This book was fantastically written and covered a captivating topic. It left me very interested to see what happens in the future of these detainees and their torturers' lives following trials and hearings that are set to occur soon.
Not only was the story itself fascinating and horrifying, but the depths to which the authors went while writing this book were truly impressive. I don't know that I have ever read a book packed with so much information. There were interviews from CIA interrogators and staffers as well as War on Terror detainees and prisoners. I cannot imagine how much time the authors must have spent gathering information and sources, and their dedication shows in this book.
I especially liked how the contrast between the CIA and the detainees was painted; the authors would follow up a quote from a CIA psychologist denying involvement in torturous interrogation techniques with a condemning quotes from a detainee about their suffering while in U.S. captivity. I was absolutely appalled at the treatment of detainees and the lengths their torturers went to minimize and belittle their suffering. I found it particularly powerful when the authors contrasted CIA interrogators' luxury purchases of homes, boats, and cars with the daily seizures, panic attacks, and pains the detainees faced in their daily lives.
This book was fantastically written and covered a captivating topic. It left me very interested to see what happens in the future of these detainees and their torturers' lives following trials and hearings that are set to occur soon.
February 10, 2024
A comprehensive history of Zubaydah’s career, capture and interrogation, as well as the broader rendition, detention and interrogation program.
Even if you’re familiar with the story, there’s many new revelations, and the book does a good job clearing up and rounding out previous accounts of these events. The authors’ description of the interrogation techniques used is vivid. The authors note that much of the interrogating was done by CIA contractors, and that CIA received authority to detain Zubaydah indefinitely, despite the fact that he wasn’t quite the top al-Qaeda lieutenant he was thought to be, and despite the fact that he was never even tried, let alone charged with a crime. Interestingly, the authors actually interviewed Zubaydah, though they don’t detail how they managed to pull it off. Zubaydah’s life story and terrorist career has always seemed like a puzzle, and one of the best parts of the book is the authors’ effort to piece it all together.
The authors also describe the roles of the contractors Mitchell and Jessen, who knew little about al-Qaeda, or about actual interrogation, and whose plans were still in development when Zubaydah was captured. Many inside and outside CIA predicted a disaster, but other voices prevailed. Surprisingly enough, Mitchell and Jessen actually come off as tragic figures, caught up in an extraordinary time where stopping the next attack overrode so many other concerns. She even tells a story of one meeting at CIA where they debated what to do with prisoners where one suggestion was literally “Why don’t we just kill them?”
The book only has a few quibbles like the mention of an “MP5 carbine.” The book also includes a “cast list,” but for some reason it’s at the end of the book rather than the front. The narrative is mostly focused, but can bog down in detail at times, and the authors often use the acronyms and jargon devised by the program’s architects.
A solid and well-researched work
Even if you’re familiar with the story, there’s many new revelations, and the book does a good job clearing up and rounding out previous accounts of these events. The authors’ description of the interrogation techniques used is vivid. The authors note that much of the interrogating was done by CIA contractors, and that CIA received authority to detain Zubaydah indefinitely, despite the fact that he wasn’t quite the top al-Qaeda lieutenant he was thought to be, and despite the fact that he was never even tried, let alone charged with a crime. Interestingly, the authors actually interviewed Zubaydah, though they don’t detail how they managed to pull it off. Zubaydah’s life story and terrorist career has always seemed like a puzzle, and one of the best parts of the book is the authors’ effort to piece it all together.
The authors also describe the roles of the contractors Mitchell and Jessen, who knew little about al-Qaeda, or about actual interrogation, and whose plans were still in development when Zubaydah was captured. Many inside and outside CIA predicted a disaster, but other voices prevailed. Surprisingly enough, Mitchell and Jessen actually come off as tragic figures, caught up in an extraordinary time where stopping the next attack overrode so many other concerns. She even tells a story of one meeting at CIA where they debated what to do with prisoners where one suggestion was literally “Why don’t we just kill them?”
The book only has a few quibbles like the mention of an “MP5 carbine.” The book also includes a “cast list,” but for some reason it’s at the end of the book rather than the front. The narrative is mostly focused, but can bog down in detail at times, and the authors often use the acronyms and jargon devised by the program’s architects.
A solid and well-researched work
March 28, 2022
I struggled with the content and detail of this book, we all know bad things happen, to people and by people! The reality of 9/11 and the consequences that followed are confronting.
I know that dealing with harsh realities would be and is extremely difficult, I also understand that it’s impossible to find the truth as some people are not able to give it, or won’t.
A difficult topic researched and dealt with in a straight forward manner, well done to the author!
My thanks to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I know that dealing with harsh realities would be and is extremely difficult, I also understand that it’s impossible to find the truth as some people are not able to give it, or won’t.
A difficult topic researched and dealt with in a straight forward manner, well done to the author!
My thanks to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 31, 2022
A brutally graphic description of the enhanced interrogation techniques/torture used on captives following the events of 911. Understanding that Americans were angry and wanted someone to pay, the failure of the CIA and our government leaders to allow this anger to mitigate itself into savagery and blood curdling abuse of other human beings was despicable.
July 15, 2022
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading The Forever Prisoner. It was suggested to me by a relative because of the research I am conducting so I gave it a go. I was blown away by the amount of first hand interviews she conducted and the depth of information she was able to achieve with this work.
Because most of her information comes from interviews she conducted (as well as official documentation) I wondered if this was more of an Oral History or a piece of journalism. In the end I decided for that latter because of the lack of scholarship in her research.
She doesn't confer with any of the leading scholarship, but I don't necessarily hold that against her. Firstly, this is something so recent that good scholarship is hard to come by and secondly, her aim is to document the abuses of the U.S. Government in regards to suspected Al-Qaeda detainees. It would have been good to get a bit more contextualization at certain points, but the depth of her investigation including the writings and thoughts of Abu Zubaydah (A.Z.) offsets that complaint in my opinion. This work truly understands its own goals and achieves them exceptionally.
Scott-Clark's work really excels when it comes to showing all the individual actors, their own motives, and their own agency within the events she covers. She builds up an understanding of, and even sympathy towards, A.Z. She is highly critical of the CIA contractors Mitchel and Jessen as well as the CIA leadership, especially those at Alec Station. She also integrates the culpability of other government entities such as the State Department and it's legal justifications for the CIA to utilize. Finally, she even attempts to contextualize the Bush administrations policy towards handling of detainees, its drive to towards militarism and violence, and ultimately gross negligence.
One of the few critical things I can say of her work is her, at times, lofty prose and journalistic intrigue. I understand she is attempting to be captivating and if it hadn't been for her concluding chapters I wouldn't even bring this up. However, in concluding her work its almost as if she loses all form of gravitas and tends towards a novelistic conclusion.
This is one of the most terrifying aspects of the whole ordeal, there was hardly any culpability within the CIA, FBI, State Department, Department of Defense, or the Bush Administration and these detainees, some of which are innocent or at least lack evidence of any wrongdoings, are still kept as prisoners of the U.S. government. As she illustrated, the above agencies, especially coming from State Department go-ahead, violated the Geneva Convention, the U.S. Constitution, international laws against torture, and U.N. declarations.
By ending her work on a lofty note, she undermines all of the seriousness she built in the first 90% of the book. To some this may seem to be a hypercritical point, but I believe the impact of her conclusion is just as important as the introduction and evidence.
Nonetheless, I am astounded at the information she was able to achieve and the way she made it into a coherent narrative. I highly recommend her work.
Because most of her information comes from interviews she conducted (as well as official documentation) I wondered if this was more of an Oral History or a piece of journalism. In the end I decided for that latter because of the lack of scholarship in her research.
She doesn't confer with any of the leading scholarship, but I don't necessarily hold that against her. Firstly, this is something so recent that good scholarship is hard to come by and secondly, her aim is to document the abuses of the U.S. Government in regards to suspected Al-Qaeda detainees. It would have been good to get a bit more contextualization at certain points, but the depth of her investigation including the writings and thoughts of Abu Zubaydah (A.Z.) offsets that complaint in my opinion. This work truly understands its own goals and achieves them exceptionally.
Scott-Clark's work really excels when it comes to showing all the individual actors, their own motives, and their own agency within the events she covers. She builds up an understanding of, and even sympathy towards, A.Z. She is highly critical of the CIA contractors Mitchel and Jessen as well as the CIA leadership, especially those at Alec Station. She also integrates the culpability of other government entities such as the State Department and it's legal justifications for the CIA to utilize. Finally, she even attempts to contextualize the Bush administrations policy towards handling of detainees, its drive to towards militarism and violence, and ultimately gross negligence.
One of the few critical things I can say of her work is her, at times, lofty prose and journalistic intrigue. I understand she is attempting to be captivating and if it hadn't been for her concluding chapters I wouldn't even bring this up. However, in concluding her work its almost as if she loses all form of gravitas and tends towards a novelistic conclusion.
This is one of the most terrifying aspects of the whole ordeal, there was hardly any culpability within the CIA, FBI, State Department, Department of Defense, or the Bush Administration and these detainees, some of which are innocent or at least lack evidence of any wrongdoings, are still kept as prisoners of the U.S. government. As she illustrated, the above agencies, especially coming from State Department go-ahead, violated the Geneva Convention, the U.S. Constitution, international laws against torture, and U.N. declarations.
By ending her work on a lofty note, she undermines all of the seriousness she built in the first 90% of the book. To some this may seem to be a hypercritical point, but I believe the impact of her conclusion is just as important as the introduction and evidence.
Nonetheless, I am astounded at the information she was able to achieve and the way she made it into a coherent narrative. I highly recommend her work.
October 11, 2022
A most interesting, at times quite disturbing read.
June 14, 2022
This is a little bit of a slog, as it's very detailed. However, it was an important and disturbing read into the US' use of torture after 9/11 and how it was justified both by the CIA and the highest echelons of the Bush administration. The level of detail may be excessive at points, making it a little harder than necessary to keep the story going, but the details about how the US waterboarded Abu Zubaydah far in excess of any guidelines and then justified it anyway are necessary to know and publicize.
The CIA and its contractors tortured and nearly killed Abu Zubaydah, claiming that it was necessary to prevent future al-Qaeda attacks. Not only was this not justifiable in itself (torture is banned), it was for nothing: Abu Zubaydah was not who they thought he was. And yet, Zubaydah remains in Guantanamo after 20 years of imprisonment, permanently damaged physically and mentally, because letting him out would mean he could talk about what the US did to him. He will never be let out, not because of his crimes, but because of ours.
The CIA and its contractors tortured and nearly killed Abu Zubaydah, claiming that it was necessary to prevent future al-Qaeda attacks. Not only was this not justifiable in itself (torture is banned), it was for nothing: Abu Zubaydah was not who they thought he was. And yet, Zubaydah remains in Guantanamo after 20 years of imprisonment, permanently damaged physically and mentally, because letting him out would mean he could talk about what the US did to him. He will never be let out, not because of his crimes, but because of ours.
June 25, 2022
So detailed that the book became boring even for an engaging topic; repetitive at points; well researched
July 30, 2022
The story was told perfectly. I almost cried reading the part where Abu Zubeydah was looking at his wife while she was searching for him, but he didn’t dare getting out of his car.
Abu Zubeydah (AZ) has lost an eye during his imprisonment and tortured. And that’s probably part of the reason the US government is afraid to release him.
It’s crazy to realize that the reason some of the Guantanamo prisoners are still locked up is not because of what they have done, but it’s because of what the US government and the CIA has done to them.
(approximately 1/3 of them are totally innocent)
When they brought the prisoners to Guantanamo for the first time from the other CIA black sites in Poland and Thailand, prisoners were all almost small and underweight due to the harsh conditions. The guards could pick them up so easily.
The book does a great job of describing the torturers including Jim Mitchell who had a psychology PhD. They got green light from GW Bush and Powell to torture people using the military training mock tortures to perform actual tortures on people who haven’t even been tried at court yet. Tortures including daily waterboarding, mock burial, putting people on unusually small boxes hours and sometimes days, using loud music and sleep deprivation.
Abu Zubeydah has created a series of drawings that illustrates these tortures that he has experienced through the past 20 years in Guantanamo (including the black sites)
As the US government shamefully lost the war in Afghanistan and left the country to Taliban, similar torture chambers has been discovered. The book talks about a torture site in Afghanistan called the Salt Pit, where similar methods led to multiple deaths and permanent injuries.
John “Bruce” Jessen, and James “Jim” Mitchell who developed harsh interrogation training materials that were used by the US military on detainees held at Guantánamo; Bagram, Afghanistan; and Abu Ghraib, Iraq, are still living their lives inside United States without facing any charges. This type of torture for the most part falls under the legal umbrella of the United States law. And that’s what’s comical about a nation who invades other country’s in the name of democracy and human rights. Especially after the attack on China for educational programs for Uyghurs that was dubbed “genocide” by western-backed think-tanks, these types of systematic tortures are usually concealed from the public under the slogan “counter-terrorism”.
Abu Zubeydah (AZ) has lost an eye during his imprisonment and tortured. And that’s probably part of the reason the US government is afraid to release him.
It’s crazy to realize that the reason some of the Guantanamo prisoners are still locked up is not because of what they have done, but it’s because of what the US government and the CIA has done to them.
(approximately 1/3 of them are totally innocent)
When they brought the prisoners to Guantanamo for the first time from the other CIA black sites in Poland and Thailand, prisoners were all almost small and underweight due to the harsh conditions. The guards could pick them up so easily.
The book does a great job of describing the torturers including Jim Mitchell who had a psychology PhD. They got green light from GW Bush and Powell to torture people using the military training mock tortures to perform actual tortures on people who haven’t even been tried at court yet. Tortures including daily waterboarding, mock burial, putting people on unusually small boxes hours and sometimes days, using loud music and sleep deprivation.
Abu Zubeydah has created a series of drawings that illustrates these tortures that he has experienced through the past 20 years in Guantanamo (including the black sites)
As the US government shamefully lost the war in Afghanistan and left the country to Taliban, similar torture chambers has been discovered. The book talks about a torture site in Afghanistan called the Salt Pit, where similar methods led to multiple deaths and permanent injuries.
John “Bruce” Jessen, and James “Jim” Mitchell who developed harsh interrogation training materials that were used by the US military on detainees held at Guantánamo; Bagram, Afghanistan; and Abu Ghraib, Iraq, are still living their lives inside United States without facing any charges. This type of torture for the most part falls under the legal umbrella of the United States law. And that’s what’s comical about a nation who invades other country’s in the name of democracy and human rights. Especially after the attack on China for educational programs for Uyghurs that was dubbed “genocide” by western-backed think-tanks, these types of systematic tortures are usually concealed from the public under the slogan “counter-terrorism”.
September 10, 2023
Cathy Scott-Clark and Adrian Levy (both of whom I am a huge fan of) wrote, what i believe, is one of the most important books of their career in The Forever Prisoner. It's a look at the CIA's 'enhanced interrogation' techniques used on suspected terrorists post 9/11.
This is an observation I have no matter which book of Scott-Clark and Levy I read, hats off to them for being sterling journalists. I am gob smacked at how they manage to get the interviews they do; their access to this seemingly elusive world of spies, informants, POWs, alleged terrorists, etc seems unparalleled. Furthermore, the in-depth interactions they recount in their books clearly goes to show their skills as I don't imagine most of these interviewees would share the things they do share with Scott-Clark and Levy as easily with others. Kudos to the questions they ask, the style with which they do it and their ability to not only draw out people but even the inferences they make from the interviews.
Specific to this book, reading about the torture (we can forget the niceties and euphemisms as this point), from the get go, is bone chilling. To think the interrogaters turned water, music, sleep, etc., the basic necessities of life, into weapons to extract information which may not even be accurate but proferred just to get the torture to stop... It was a tough read.
Kudos to the authors for researching and presenting mini-lifelines of the important 'players' of this story, both the prisoners and the officials, it made for more credible and empathetic reading.
The only criticism (if one can call it that) I have, and I'll admit this maybe more of a personal issue, I struggled with the sheer amount of names of CIA/FBI operatives, informants and real and suspected terrorists, as well as incidences presented. It got confusing for me and made the book a bit hard to follow at times. At the same time I realise it was important to feature all the people that were featured else the book may not have seemed complete.
TL;DR: read this book.
This is an observation I have no matter which book of Scott-Clark and Levy I read, hats off to them for being sterling journalists. I am gob smacked at how they manage to get the interviews they do; their access to this seemingly elusive world of spies, informants, POWs, alleged terrorists, etc seems unparalleled. Furthermore, the in-depth interactions they recount in their books clearly goes to show their skills as I don't imagine most of these interviewees would share the things they do share with Scott-Clark and Levy as easily with others. Kudos to the questions they ask, the style with which they do it and their ability to not only draw out people but even the inferences they make from the interviews.
Specific to this book, reading about the torture (we can forget the niceties and euphemisms as this point), from the get go, is bone chilling. To think the interrogaters turned water, music, sleep, etc., the basic necessities of life, into weapons to extract information which may not even be accurate but proferred just to get the torture to stop... It was a tough read.
Kudos to the authors for researching and presenting mini-lifelines of the important 'players' of this story, both the prisoners and the officials, it made for more credible and empathetic reading.
The only criticism (if one can call it that) I have, and I'll admit this maybe more of a personal issue, I struggled with the sheer amount of names of CIA/FBI operatives, informants and real and suspected terrorists, as well as incidences presented. It got confusing for me and made the book a bit hard to follow at times. At the same time I realise it was important to feature all the people that were featured else the book may not have seemed complete.
TL;DR: read this book.
September 24, 2023
This book tells the woeful story about how, in the wake of 9/11, while the US may have been well-justified to seek vengeance for the surprise attack on America, the government went off half-cocked, convinced of a second wave, and relied upon thin and poor intelligence. Might was right, so those in power believed. And might, vengeance, and bloodthirst led us down the primrose path to some incredible failures — a war in Iraq that was misguided and unnecessary for one.
It also led us down the slippery slope of torture, which is the subject of this book. The justifications employed by many, including lawyers, was/is incredible. They tried to cloak the program in science, but if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, well then it’s a duck. They legitimized torture to no avail and then lied that it produced valuable evidence, which is dubious.
Incredibly sad tale and very difficult to read as the torture is described, but I’m glad I read it.
January 27, 2025
A little too lengthy (which made it feel repetitive), but very well researched.
This is a book about “enhanced interrogation” (torture) and whether it is legal or ethical in the USA.
My brain is so conflicted because OF COURSE it’s wrong, but are there ever times when it has saved thousands or more lives? Does that result justify the torture?
Is it ethical to detain enhanced interrogation survivors forever just to make sure they don’t rat on their interrogators?
There’s a lot to learn and a lot of emotions to go through in this book.
This is a book about “enhanced interrogation” (torture) and whether it is legal or ethical in the USA.
My brain is so conflicted because OF COURSE it’s wrong, but are there ever times when it has saved thousands or more lives? Does that result justify the torture?
Is it ethical to detain enhanced interrogation survivors forever just to make sure they don’t rat on their interrogators?
There’s a lot to learn and a lot of emotions to go through in this book.
July 25, 2022
What is wrong with interrogation, and using any means needed, to get vital information from terrorists? Remember 9/11. I'd say open more covert centers, grab more terrorists, and squeeze them dry. We should appreciate that we even have a CIA, and all of their efforts.
November 12, 2024
This was both devastating and infuriating. Much was known from various leaks and reports, but this book offers many new and disturbing details. Well worth a read as many of these ghouls are still out making appearances in polite society.
April 30, 2022
Incredible...a must read....you will never think of the War on Terror the same again.
November 5, 2025
A very hard read on a very horrid subject. Ultimately no justice for anyone and the CIA being the (brutal,violent) jerks we’ve always known them to be.
July 14, 2023
A vivid account of CIA’s interrogation centres and third degree torture methods post 9/11. Splits open the politics of US military adventurism in Afghanistan and Iraq post 9/11 attacks. Can’t really believe it’s the forced confessions at some of the torture centres that ultimately triggered Iraq war. Overall an ok read and superb investigative journalism as has always been the case with all Adrian Levy-Cathy Scott Clarke books.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews