Abusive interrogations now hinder terror prosecutions

Abusive interrogations now hinder terror prosecutions

Kansas City Star: The Bush administration’s incompetence in the war on terror was on full display again recently as charges were dismissed against Mohammed al-Qahtani, who was reported to have been closely involved in plans for the Sept. 11 attacks.

The problem is that much of the evidence against Qahtani was extracted from him through mental and physical abuse at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.

Hooding, physical mistreatment, intimidation by dogs and long-term isolation have tainted the case against him.

A top Pentagon official recently decided which 9/11 cases in Guantanamo Bay would move forward to a military trial by commission. She affirmed charges against five alleged terrorists but dismissed the charges against Qahtani.

Some of the five detainees who will face trial were also abused. But “clean teams” were later assigned to try to gather evidence against the prisoners that would be more admissible in court.

It is frustrating that the administration encouraged brutal interrogation tactics that might have persuaded prisoners to say just about anything.

That has hobbled prosecutors, just as the administration’s critics have long warned.

These policies were a betrayal of fundamental American values. It should be remembered that the Founding Fathers explicitly renounced cruelty even against people convicted of crimes, let alone those not yet tried.

In addition, the Bush administration has lectured the world — and particularly the Muslim countries — at great length about the importance of respecting human rights.

The derision at this hypocrisy can be heard around the globe.