What is torture and should we do it? | Forensic Files

the Senate report has publicly revealed graphic new details the report says detainees were kept in total darkness
Shackled to the wall in 45° temperatures one prisoner died in the CIA did things
which I really consider immoral any activity we conduct is within the law we do not torture we
tortured some folks are brutal interrogation techniques ever acceptable we were asked to do some very
hard things are we happy we did them of course not would we do them again I would hope so if we found ourselves in
those circumstances I just don't think a country like ours should be capable of conducting torture I just think it's
beneath our dignity I think it's poor for our reputation in the world I'm not going to ever accept the
use of the word torture in front of what what happened here you you know I'm not
going to fault to that somebody has to stand up and be willing to say this is not what our country is about we've got
to have people who are prepared to say Mr President you can't do that it's illegal we visit violence on our enemies
but we should not mistreat them even though they have done unspeakable things to our soldiers and to civilians that
does not justify us doing it to them the reality is you have to look at it in context I mean if if in fact you
had uh credible intelligence that there was a nuclear weapon planted someplace in New York City or Washington DC and
there was one person that would know where that bomb was located uh it'd be very tough uh not to resort
to every method possible in order to get that information I just have to be frank
with you if some future president is going to decide to waterboard he better bring his own bucket because he's going
to have to do it himself the agency is not going to do this again

Former CIA Directors Tenet, Goss, and Hayden -- who during the Bush administration presided over the agency's "enhanced interrogation" program -- insist the brutal techniques produced valuable information and saved lives. What are the rules for America's spymasters in battling terrorists? Twelve living CIA directors weigh in, in "48 Hours Presents: The Spymasters - CIA in the Crosshairs," airing Saturday, May 21 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Brief Summary

The episode debates CIA torture methods and their moral implications in national security contexts.

Key points

Senate Report Reveals Torture Details. The Senate report exposes shocking details about detainee treatment, including torture methods.
Moral Dilemma of Torture. A discussion on the morality and legality of torture in extreme situations.
Future of Torture Practices. A cautionary statement about the potential for future torture under new leadership.

Episode highlights

Moral Dilemma of TortureA discussion on the morality and legality of torture in extreme situations.“I just don't think a country like ours should be capable of conducting torture”0:47May 17, 2016

Episode quotes

I just think it's beneath our dignity.

Reflecting on the morality of torture.

0:51WatchMay 17, 2016

More from 48 Hours

Solve the Crime

Read a real case one clue at a time, then see how your call held up against the investigators.