Thread: The Most Effective Interrogation Technique

I just finished reading "How to Break a Terrorist" by Matthew Alexander, http://www.amazon.com/How-Break-Terr.../dp/1416573151. It lines up well with the oped he wrote and the adapted book excerpt that had been published.

What was interesting was that the successful interrogation that he performed on the key detainee (unknown at the time) that led to Zarqawi's demise (while using an ego up technique) was done after those who had only tried controlling and fear interrogation techniques had given up on the detainee and concluded that he was a nobody vis a vis Zarqawi. In fact, these interrogators looked down upon the author and his claim that rapport building was the most successful strategy.

For me, it's a similar mindset to those leaders (definitely a minority, but they exist) who feel that the only way to train soldiers is to put them in their place through degrading treatment that relies upon physical punishment.

I'd recommend this book for anyone that's interested in how the Zarqawi case was cracked and how the Army Interrogation School righted itself in the wake of moral transgression early on during the GWOT.

Found this NYT opinion today. Thought it was relevant-

Try A Little Tenderness-NYT Opinion

There's some interesting and, possibly, long-forgotten techniques both in interrogation and interviewing. A case can be made that a successful interrogation IS an interview.

Some thoughts

Shek, S-2,

That seems to agree with Mark Bowden's piece on the Atlantic. He interviewed an Israeli interrogator who did work when mental duress of terrorists was allowed in Israel, and the the Israeli stated that he consider using physical violence signifies failure on the part of the interrogator, and that his successes were almost always gained by mind tricks not physical force.

Stress Positions, Time disorientation, Sleep Deprevation, White Noise. You will soon spill the beans.

Originally Posted by Chaobam Armour

Stress Positions, Time disorientation, Sleep Deprevation, White Noise. You will soon spill the beans.

What's the research backing this up?

Originally Posted by Shek

For me, it's a similar mindset to those leaders (definitely a minority, but they exist) who feel that the only way to train soldiers is to put them in their place through degrading treatment that relies upon physical punishment.

That's always surprised me. Obviously the armed forces have special circumstances but I get such good results by challenging and praising combined with a team approach, I just can't see what managers who 'rule' by fear/intimidation ever think they're going to achieve...