The Erosion of Moral Authority: Examining U.S. Actions Post-9/11

The Erosion of Moral Authority: Examining U.S. ACTIONS Post 9/11

Before the tragic events of September 11, Western democracies had long championed the international ban on torture, criticizing governments that violated it. However, in the aftermath of 9/11, the George W. Bush administration plunged into a morally dubious path with the invasion of Iraq, the revelations of abuse at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, extra-judicial killings, indefinite detentions without charge, and an acknowledgment that torture could be justified in rare cases. The methods employed by the CIA, as disclosed in 2006, were more widespread than initially acknowledged.

Reports suggest that President Bush himself was not fully briefed on the program until 2006, expressing discomfort with the information received. The CIA had prepared to brief him on the program in 2002, but the White House, in an obvious act of willful ignorance, ultimately told the CIA that he would not receive the briefing. The CIA’s use of harsh interrogation methods, including beatings, withholding medical treatment, and “stress and duress” techniques like sleep deprivation and hooding, raised ethical concerns. Alleged terrorists were also transferred to countries known for human rights violations, violating international norms

These interrogations have been conducted at Bagram air base outside Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, and on Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean, which the United States leases from Britain, putting it beyond the reach of American courts. In addition, officials are quoted as saying that many prisoners have been transferred to the intelligence services of other countries—Jordan, Egypt and Morocco are named—well known for violation of human rights and using brutal methods of interrogation.

Some argued that the new terrorist threats justified limited non-lethal torture in extreme cases, proposing the issuance of “torture warrants” by judges. Additionally, there were suggestions of using truth serums, despite doubts about their effectiveness and international prohibitions.

The term “enhanced interrogation,” employed by the CIA, parallels the Gestapo’s “sharpened interrogation” tactics, reminiscent of Nazi Germany. From Abu Ghraib to the dark rooms of the secret Cobalt facilities, the abusive methods used by the CIA reflect a lesson in brutality that transcends the 21st century.

The United States, through indefinite secret detentions and brutal interrogation techniques, operated outside international law and breached the Geneva Convention. By ignoring international treaties, the U.S. administrations became, in essence, war criminals, undermining the moral case against torture. In the moral case against torture, European countries are guilty by association, allowing the transfer of detainees via European territory to foreign countries to be interrogated.

The Senate Intelligence Committee’s review in 2012 revealed that the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program between late 2001 and early 2009 was more brutal and ineffective than disclosed, with the agency providing inaccurate information to Congress and the public. President Obama condemned these practices, acknowledging the damage they caused to America’s standing and counterterrorism efforts. Nevertheless, Obama also noted, intelligence professionals are “patriots” and that “we owe a profound debt of gratitude to our fellow citizens who serve to keep us safe, among them the dedicated men and women of our intelligence community, including the Central Intelligence Agency.”

While President Obama closed remaining CIA secret prisons overseas and banned harsh interrogation practices on his first day in office in 2009, these actions were not codified in U.S. law and could be overturned by future Presidents. Guantanamo Bay, a travesty of justice and despite promises by Obama to close it, still operates, raising concerns about justice and human rights.

The failure to prosecute individuals involved in torture practices is reprehensible and serves as a potent recruitment tool for terrorist organizations. The use of torture, under any circumstances, is morally reprehensible and harkens back to darker periods in history. It is imperative for a civilized society to reject such practices and uphold ethical standards.

WJJH – 15.-1.2015 – Revised 17.1.2024

Diatribe: After 9/11, the US embraced morally questionable tactics, including torture, in counterterrorism. The CIA’s brutal interrogations, secret detentions, and extraordinary renditions violated international law and human rights. Despite initial condemnation, subsequent administrations failed to bring justice and continued Guantanamo Bay’s operation. Such actions undermine moral credibility and serve as recruitment tools for terrorists.