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USAF Special Forces Acted As CIA Contracted Torture Advisers

by Karen Hatter | April 21, 2009 at 06:18 am

219 views | 28 Recommendations | 4 comments

The United States Air Force's (USAF) Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE) was founded in 1947 and according to the website, Gosere.com, states :

Our mission is to prepare aircrew and high risk of capture DOD personnel to survive under any conditions. SERE Specialists train over 6,500 aircrew members a year in the proper use of principles, techniques, equipment, and procedures necessary to survive anywhere in the world.

Newly released United States Department of Justice (DOJ) memoranda reveal that personnel trained in techniques used by SERE acted as one of the two persons to be in contact with a prisoner during the "increased pressure phase" , practiced by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), with it being the SERE psychologist's responsibility to make the decision whether the prisoner(s) being tortured was (were) experiencing " .... severe physical or mental pain or suffering" , with the Bush administration's Justice Department's criterion for when actions of 'interrogators' would be considered torture and criminal being if severe mental and physical pain or suffering was the intent of the 'interrogator' .

Click here for Justice Department Memos on Torture Interrogation .

Also at NowPublic :

"I Was (We Were) Following Orders" Just Ain't Good Enough

CIA Contracted Psychologists Approved Torture Methods Used

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

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hussain

at 06:34 on April 21st, 2009

"torture advisers" hired by a country which claims to be champion of human rights around the world.

anon comment (not verified)

at 07:09 on April 21st, 2009

Thank you for this story. There is so much that remains hidden and we must keep digging to uncover the abuses that grew out of the warrantless surveillance program (with fusion center involvement), in my opinion. If not, someone needs to determine who is behind the crimes that are being committed all across this country.

Many innocent Americans have been (and continue to be) "targeted" and victimized. These operations are the equivalent of "domestic terrorism" and, dare I say, slow genocide. Perhaps a whistleblower will step forward - perhaps someone will have a crisis of conscience. This is not a conspiracy theory - this is not a delusion - it's a fact, which I trust will someday see the light of day, so to speak. It's America's great shame - just one of many, sadly.

Again, thank you for your good work.

anon comment (not verified)

at 07:17 on April 21st, 2009

Terrible things were done and all Americans must assume some responsibility because, when the word first started to trickle out, we stood idly by and did nothing.

I'm an American and I love this country. My father is 90 years old and a retired Army officer. He's a Republican, I'm a Democrat. On this we both agree: Torture doesn't work and what we've done is shameful. The damage is incalculable - irreparable damage has been done. On behalf of many Americans, I ask for forgiveness.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 07:28 on April 21st, 2009

Unfortunately this has been going on for decades under all administrations. The American public has the right to know what is being done in their name. I couldn.t agree more that this practice does not get the desired results. Some would make us believe that it did work. Let's see the memos that supposedly proof this. It still doesn't make it right.

duo

at 14:09 on April 21st, 2009

Thanks, Karen. I read a disturbing report that a poll taken among soldiers and police personnel in the U.S. reveals that most said they would also "follow orders" if they are ever ordered to attack U.S. citizens. I think it's the water fountain . . .