What Zero Dark Thirty Won’t Tell You About Effective Interrogation

The release of the movie Zero Dark Thirty has re-ignited a debate over the effectiveness of “enhanced” interrogation techniques. The movie is based on the Intelligence Community’s hunt for Osama bin Laden and depicts the physically coercive interrogation methods used against some detainees. In the movie, it appears that these brutal means eventually helped lead to the raid on bin Laden’s compound.

As people watch and debate the movie, the question is not whether harsh interrogation techniques ever lead to actionable intelligence, but whether using them is necessary and appropriate. We believe there are two reasons why these techniques should not be used.

First, harsh interrogation techniques are morally wrong. We would oppose their use on U.S. servicemembers. We oppose their use by dictators against their own people. We have signed multiple treaties stating our objections to their use. Torture violates the ideals we stand for as Americans, including our belief in human dignity.

Second, there are more effective ways to gain intelligence than by using torture. Detainees who have no useful information and who are subjected to harsh interrogation techniques can give up false or misleading information to stop the treatment, forcing investigators to chase false leads. The use of force undermines the interrogators’ ultimate goal—to elicit useful intelligence—for which you need the co-operation of the subject, not merely compliance.

In 2011, we asked veteran military interrogator Steven Kleinman to explain the difference between effective interrogations in the real world and those portrayed in Hollywood. Mr. Kleinman has more than 26 years of operational experience. He is a highly decorated veteran of Operations Just Cause, Desert Storm, and Iraqi Freedom. He has years of experience handling high-value detainees and has testified on interrogation and detainee policy before Congress.

We are re-circulating the Kleinman paper in light of the controversy over Zero Dark Thirty. We believe that his explanations and recommendations remain timely and relevant as we continue this debate. We encourage you to take a look.