The Torture Memos

the long version

On April 16, 2009, the Justice Department released never-before-seen secret memos describing, in graphic detail, the brutal interrogation techniques used by the CIA under the Bush administration's "war on terror." Now, for the first time, the key documents are compiled in one remarkable volume, showing that the US government's top attorneys were instrumental in rationalizing acts of torture and cruelty, employing chillingly twisted logic and Orwellian reasoning to authorize what the law absolutely forbids. This collection gives readers an unfiltered look at the tactics approved by the Office of Legal Counsel; the documents, originally issued in secret by the OLC between 2002 and 2005, have been edited here only to eliminate repetition. Renowned legal scholar David Cole provides an introductory commentary that tells the story behind the memos. He argues eloquently that accountability is essential if the US is restore fidelity to the rule of law.