Think Progress

FBI special agent predicts ‘catastrophic attack’ in ‘revenge’ for torture, Abu Ghraib.

Testifying at today’s Senate Judiciary hearing on coercive interrogation techniques, former FBI special agent Jack Cloonan deplored coercive interrogations for being “not effective” and said the perception that the U.S. tortures detainees has “helped to recruit a new generation of jihadist martyrs”:

Based on my experience in talking to Al Qaida members, I am persuaded that revenge in the form of a catastrophic attack on the homeland is coming; that a new generation of jihadist martyrs, motivated in part by the images from Abu Ghraib, is, as we speak, planning to kill Americans; and that nothing gleaned from the use of coercive interrogation techniques will be of any significant use in forestalling this calamitous eventuality. [...]

If I were the director of marketing of Al Qaida and intent on replenishing the ranks of jihadists, I know where my first piece of marketing collateral would be. It would be a blast e-mail with an attachment. The attachment would contain a picture of Private England pointing at the stacked naked bodies of the detainees at Abu Ghraib. This picture screams out for revenge and a day of reckoning will come.

Cloonan also repeatedly emphasized that the “rapport-building” method of interrogation is “more effective, efficient, and reliable” than coercive techniques — regardless of some conservatives’ determination to mock this method.



30 Responses to “FBI special agent predicts ‘catastrophic attack’ in ‘revenge’ for torture, Abu Ghraib.”

  1. Mugsy says:

    I hope these people realize Bush is just LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE to bomb Iran. And they could hand it to him on a silver platter.


  2. Badmoodman says:

    Predictably, when this attack comes under an Obama Administration, the right wingnuts will scream it’s a subversive attack by the president’s Muslim buddies.


  3. Erroll says:

    Certainly FBI agent Cloonan’s statement has merit. Also, as long as the United States stupidly insists on maintaining its policy in the Middle East by keeping its troops in that region and providing support for Israel at the expense of the rights and needs of the Palestinian and Lebanese people, then more of the younger generation of terrorists will be plotting more violence against the United States military in the Middle East. Barack Obama does not help matters when he demonstrates such fealty to the Israeli cause when he grovels at the feet of AIPAC and by doing so ends up alienating so many countries in the Middle East.


  4. Badmoodman says:

    Hey TP, how about replacing the RECOMMEND icon with a FIST BUMP?


  5. Freedom Rebel says:

    #3 Erroll Says:

    Certainly FBI agent Cloonan’s statement has merit. Also, as long as the United States stupidly insists on maintaining its policy in the Middle East by keeping its troops in that region and providing support for Israel at the expense of the rights and needs of the Palestinian and Lebanese people, then more of the younger generation of terrorists will be plotting more violence against the United States military in the Middle East. Barack Obama does not help matters when he demonstrates such fealty to the Israeli cause when he grovels at the feet of AIPAC and by doing so ends up alienating so many countries in the Middle East.

    You are exactly right. That is one of the reasons Bush is having problems with the Saudis on getting them to produce more oil and lower the price. They are not happy with him right now over the treatment of the palestinian people.


  6. 1Watt says:

    Putting Bush, Cheney, Rummy et. al. on trial for war crimes would take away a lot of the recruitment.


  7. moondancer says:

    Completing the loop. It’s what they fear/pray for. Validation for their criminal behavior, and an excuse for continuing it.


  8. flavorino says:

    FBI special agent predicts ‘catastrophic attack’ in ‘revenge’ for torture, Abu Ghraib.»

    That’s ridiculous…impossible

    I’ve seen “24″ and that never happens to Jack Bauer.


  9. dbadass says:

    So here is the thing JinJin:
    I offered a reasoned solution to this problem. You have chosen to ignore my kind suggestion. So how about I now feed you your testicles?


  10. Chocolate Jesus says:

    >We must be nice to the Muslims
    >so they can be nice to us.

    Wow I sense your dripping with sarcasm. How about just not going out of our way to make enemies and bury ourselves in debt to china all for the sake of trying to keep our boot over the neck of the entire middle east?


  11. Chocolate Jesus says:

    >We must be nice to the Muslims
    > so they can be nice to us.

    So in your book HillyBilly, anyone we don’t sexually torture
    is someone we are being “nice” to, right?


  12. jay_severin_has_a_small_pen1s says:

    That’s stupid logic.

    They actually hate us more?

    Just ridiculous.


  13. dbadass says:

    So Billy. Your my buddy… Right?


  14. I. B. Leary says:

    Time for the trashing of a FBI agent. they will attack him. It’s their MO for not assimilating.


  15. Gregor Samsa says:

    So the FBI is celebrating the attacks on America now?

    Why does the FBI hate America?

    Waterboard ‘em all, I say!

    /sarc off


  16. Jackie says:

    All part of the White House Propaganda. Now the terrorist wont blame the American people it’s the FBI and CIA who tortured and ordered the torture of prisoners. If anyone wanted to attack the US for that reason they would have done it long ago. The only attack the US has is from the Law Makers and the White House. McCain needs all the help he can get. FBI Director Muller might be indicted for the crimes he committed.


  17. marlow says:

    Whadya mean “coercive interrogation techniques are not effective”? They give the chimp-in-chief serious wood when he reviews them on video, don’t they? Better than pickles ever did, I’ll bet.


  18. Ms_Joanne says:

    Amen, marlow. I think you’ve nailed it.

    They DO get off on it. And it’s sick and disgusting.

    Crushing the balls of kids. CHILDREN!

    Indict. Try. Convict. Hang. I used to say imprison until CJ showed me the light to the whole children thing.

    Our cowboy president deserves cowboy justice.


  19. Max-1 says:

    .

    Dear George W. Bush,

    Is we safer… YET?

    .


  20. woodguy says:

    SITE MONITOR @5. SPAMMING

    Can you just permanently ban this nuisance?


  21. woodguy says:

    I was foolish enough to click on JinJin’s site a few weeks ago when it first appeared.

    Since then my e-mail spam has quadrupled. I know it’s my fault, but I thought I’d pass this on for FYI so it won’t happen to anyone else.

    I’ve asked to have him banned, but to no avail.


  22. Ms_Joanne says:

    Woodguy, how does it know your email?


  23. Jess Wonderin says:

    So we get a true assessment – torture creates dedicated outrage and desire for revenge . . . and delivers no usable intell. Thought that was made clear centuries ago during the Inquisition.

    (As for JinJin . . ban the ass/domain, and as a good rule NEVER click a link unless it’s a known Progressive site – phishermen should be neutered to avoid reproduction . . . )


  24. RUCerious says:

    Congratulations, darth and chympy.

    You’ve succeeded in emboldening and aiding and abetting recruitment for the terraists.

    Jackasses.


  25. DRxJ says:

    Thank you, Bush supporters.
    This is your legacy!


  26. bogtrotters says:

    1Watt Says:

    Putting Bush, Cheney, Rummy et. al. on trial for war crimes would take away a lot of the recruitment.

    * * *

    Amen. If they really love “The Homeland,” (yuk!Hate that word!) they should turn themselves in.


  27. Uncle Ho says:

    When the blowback from Gitmo, Abu, and invading Iraq finally comes, we will surely deserve it.


  28. woodguy says:

    Ms_Joanne Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    Woodguy, how does it know your email?

    June 11th, 2008 at 1:45 am

    —————————

    I can’t say for sure that he does. I’m barely internet saavy, and I was careful not to accuse him of anything. I do know my spam has gone crazy, so I just wanted to warn others.


  29. green says:

    I firmly believe that 9/11 was an inside job. But I felt confused about why US agents encouraged by the White House would use torture against people they knew were innocent. Now I understand – use torture and humiliation to enrage the Arab world so another false flag operation can be carried out and blamed on Islamic extremists. IMPEACHMENT must go forward NOW!!!


  30. republicanSScareme says:

    Anyone who uses the word “homeland” as a substitute for America should be tried for treason and executed. It is Nazi talk to the core. Zionist traitors who want to distance Americans from their traditions started using it so they can more easily manipulate them.

    Refuse to use the word “homeland” in any context. The so called “Homeland Security Dept,” is run by Jewish Nazis who should be on trial for treason.



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