After months of deliberation, the president’s task force on interrogation and detention policies has recommended the formation of an “elite interrogation unit” to question “key terror suspects,” the Washington Post reports.”[S]hifting the center of gravity away from the CIA and giving the White House direct oversight,” the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group, or HIG, will be based at the FBI, but run by the president’s National Security Council staff from the White House. Members of HIG will rely almost exclusively on Army Field Manual guidelines for the interrogation of prisoners of war to question their quarry, and thus, presumably, they will have acquired the qualities desirable in an interrogator, as designated by FM 34-52:
Moreover, “Usually a neat, organized, and professional appearance will favorably influence the source,” and “A hostile and antagonistic source is most difficult to interrogate. In many cases, he refuses to talk at all, and offers a real challenge to the interrogator. An interrogator must have self-control, patience, and tact when dealing with him.” Just so you know. And, to be certain there are no misunderstandings, the Post says:
The interrogation-authority-grab by the Obama White House could send shockwaves through the Bush-mind-control-conspiracy-theory community, and sting the New York Times as a lover’s betrayal. But oh, happy, happy day for jihadist murderers the world over who may chance to hear from Samantha Power’s own lovely lips: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney present during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights?”
