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John MacFarlane is a writer, producer and editor from Montreal, Canada. He has an MA in media studies, a grad diploma in journalism and a B.Eng in electrical engineering. His MA thesis was about the Daily Show. He's interested in civic engagement and communications theory, the digital divide and alternative economic theories, and saving nature.

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Secret US memo gave approval to severe interrogation techniques

posted by John MacFarlane at 10h36 GMT on Oct 4

The New York Times reports today that the US Justice Dept. issued a secret memo in 2005 that endorsed brutal methods of extracting information from detainees, in sharp contrast to the department's public stance on torture.

The new opinion, the officials said, for the first time provided explicit authorization to barrage terror suspects with a combination of painful physical and psychological tactics, including head-slapping, simulated drowning and frigid temperatures.

This will come as no surprise to the subjects of Alex Gibney's Why Democracy? film, Taxi to the Dark Side -- at least those who didn't die as a result of torture.

DailyKos writer MCJoan suggests that the main result of this news should be the refusal of the US Senate to approve attorney-general nominee Michael Mukasey unless he publicly repudiates torture and vows that the Justice Dept. under his tenure will not sign off on torture as it did under his predecessor, Alberto Gonzales.

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Secret US memo gave approval to severe interrogation techniques

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