Apparently the APA's latest round of public relations with respect to
the psychology-and-torture issue is not having the intended effect.
(Thanks to Fred Weizmann for bringing this editorial to my attention.)
Chris Green
York U.
Toronto
===============
[begin *Charleston Gazette* Editorial]
Shamefully, some American psychologists participated in interrogating and
abusing Muslim prisoners at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and at Abu Ghraib and
other prisons in Iraq.
This disturbing news is contained in a newly declassified report by the
Defense Department's Office of Inspector General.
Titled "Review of DOD-Directed Investigations of Detainee Abuse," the report
-- requested by 110 members of Congress -- documents the central role U.S.
psychologists played in developing "the abusive interrogation paradigm" at
Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib and other prisons.
Many current interrogation techniques were developed through the military's
"Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape" program, or SERE, which was
created to help U.S. soldiers resist interrogation if they are captured in
combat situations. Then SERE techniques were also used to break down Muslim
detainees, after former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld approved the plan
in late 2002.
During certain types of SERE questioning -- such as "waterboarding," in
which water is continuously poured over the face of a detainee strapped to a
board -- a psychologist must be present, military rules say.
SERE interrogation techniques also include extreme isolation, prolonged
sleep deprivation, "noise stress," abuse by dogs, as well as sexual and
cultural humiliation.
Washington-based Physicians for Human Rights wants Congress to investigate
prisoner abuse and the roles played by psychologists and other health
professionals.
Leonard S. Rubenstein, executive director of the physicians' group, asked
the American Psychological Association in June to condemn SERE
interrogations and the "collaboration" and "complicity" of psychologists in
those practices.
Two years ago, then-APA President Gerald Koocher created a nine-member Task
Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security. That group defended
SERE and found that psychologists are in "unique position to assist in
ensuring that such processes are safe and ethical for all participants."
But when names of task force members became public, six turned out to have
direct ties to military or intelligence agencies.
Last month, after the OIG report was released, two of the three civilian
members said the former APA report "should be annulled" because its
investigative process was flawed.
Dr. Jean Maria Arrigo, one of those members, called for a moratorium in the
involvement of psychologists in any military interrogations. Dr.
Koocher himself condemned SERE practices as "torture and cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment."
APA's current leaders, however, have taken no public position about
collaboration by some psychologists with inhumane questioning of prisoners.
Many political leaders and newspapers are calling for the closure of
Guantanamo and for humane treatment of prisoners.
The American Psychological Association should condemn torture and censure
any of its members who participate in it.
[end *Charleston Gazette* Editorial]
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