Management: Critical Analysis and Debate on Torture and Interrogation

This essay provides a critical analysis of the use of torture in management, examining the definition of torture from legal and media perspectives, and its portrayal in the context of counter-terrorism. It discusses the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) use of torture for extracting information, highlighting the ineffectiveness of enhanced interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, and their adverse psychological and physical effects. The essay references scientific studies and experiments that demonstrate the counterproductive nature of torture, including the deterioration of memory under stressful conditions. It also explores the adoption of alternative coercive methods like sensory deprivation and partial sleep, and the formation of the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG) by the Obama administration, which focused on more subtle and friendly interrogation approaches. The conclusion emphasizes the immorality and unreliability of information derived through torture, and its potential to serve as a recruiting tool for extremist groups, undermining national values.

Running head: MANAGEMENT
Critical Analysis and Debate
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1MANAGEMENT
The definition of torture varies significantly depending on the manner in which the term
finds its place in media and in general conversations. From the legal perspective the definition of
torture refers to the act of inflicting severe physical or mental suffering by public official for
specific purpose. In other words, torture refers to the infliction of the intense pain such as
crushing, wounding or burning in or to punish, coerce or afford sadistic pleasure.
In innumerable television shows and films, torture has been portrayed as harsh necessity
in the fight against terrorism. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officers resorted to conducting
torture for extracting secrets that could save lives (Bellamy 2019). According to Houck and
Repke (2017), there is no scientific study related to torture but neuroscientists believes that
extreme temperatures leads to the creation of thoughts that leads to counterproductive and
unreliable information. Thus, if information needed to be extracted for saving lives then by
interrogating the men by putting them through the torture does not produce anything worthwhile.
Stone (2016) stated, enhanced interrogation techniques by CIA were implemented for
breaking down the resistance of the detainees towards interrogation. The disorientation and the
stress caused by the methods were believed to force the detainees to not only cooperate but also
release the piece of information they have been hiding. It was however found that the enhanced
interrogation techniques were neither effective in obtaining the accurate information or gain
detainee cooperation. In fact, it was the more sophisticated and the lesser inhumane techniques
that seemed effective.
Nevertheless waterboarding is one of the most notorious techniques for interrogation. It
represented a procedure where the prisoners remained strapped against a board and face covered
with piece of cloth and water poured until the prisoner’s mouth and nasal cavity got filled

2MANAGEMENT
thereby preventing him from breathing. (Del Rosso 2014). The effects were too adverse as it led
to intense psychological and physical damage that lasted for months. In fact, the actual results
were counteractive resulting in false information as it harmed the areas of brain related to
memory (Newbery2013).
Psyciatrist Charles Morgan in an experiment carried out in 2006, subjected physically fit
and highly trained soldiers of special operations to conditions of extreme temperatures and sleep
deprivation and they were expected to cooperate (Bellamy 2019). But to the utmost
astonishment, it resulted in remarkable deterioration of memory due to the stressful conditions.
Although authorities have now placed a ban on the enhanced interrogation and adopted
coercive methods like sensory deprivation or isolation or partial sleep (Dimitriu 2013). For
instance, this method permits the interrogators in restricting the detainees to only four effective
hours of sleep in each of the 24 hour for an indefinite period. It was found that the partial sleep
deprivation acted equivalent to complete loss of sleep.
Presently, more effective interrogation techniques have been adopted after the formation
of High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG) by Barrack Obama in the year 2009 for
conducting the interrogations for dealing with high profile suspects of terrorism (Watkins, 2015).
The HIG focused on methods that concentrated on subtle and friendly approach for interrogation.
On a concluding note, it can be said that torture is never justifiable. Besides, it has been
found that information derived through torture is not reliable and the actions serve as the
recruiting tool for the extremist group in creating further harm. Torture is thus immoral and it
undermines the values that define the national identity.

3MANAGEMENT
References:
Bellamy, A. 2019. No Pain, No Gain? Torture and Ethics in the War on Terror, 82(1), pp.121-
148.
Del Rosso, J., 2014. The Toxicity of Torture: The Cultural Structure of US Political Discourse of
Waterboarding. Social Forces, 93(1), pp.383-404.
Dimitriu 1, G., 2013. Interrogation, coercion and torture: Dutch debates and experiences after
9/11. Intelligence and National Security, 28(4), pp.547-565.
Houck, S.C. and Repke, M.A., 2017. When and why we torture: A review of psychology
research. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 3(3), p.272.
Newbery, S., 2013. Terrorism, torture and intelligence. International Politics, 50(4), pp.512-531.
Stone, R. 2016. Science Shows That Torture Doesn’t Work and Is Counterproductive. [online]
Available at: https://www.newsweek.com/2016/05/20/science-shows-torture-doesnt-work-
456854.html [Accessed 5 Feb. 2019].
Watkins, A. 2015. Obama's Secret Elite Interrogation Squad May Not Be So Elite -- And Might
Be Doomed. [online] Available at: https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/the-elite-interrogation-
group-that-isnt_us_55c8f85be4b0f73b20ba3501?ec_carp=5767997273492328687 [Accessed 5
Feb. 2019].