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2 months ago in Interrogation Ethics By Vishal

Does torture actually work‑ the evidence on enhanced interrogation

Proponents of "enhanced interrogation" claim it produces life-saving intelligence. Is there actual empirical evidence to back this up?

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By Daniel Answered 1 month ago

No. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence's comprehensive review found no credible evidence that waterboarding or other EITs produced reliable, actionable intelligence not obtainable through lawful, rapport-based methods. Intelligence professionals and interrogators with field experience consistently affirm that coercion breeds falsehoods: subjects say whatever they think will stop the pain. The consensus across the empirical literature is clear: EITs are ineffective, counterproductive, and their supposed efficacy is unsupported by evidence.

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