home

Wikileaks Releases CIA Report on High Value Detainees and Targeted Killings

Wikileaks has released a secret 2009 CIA report evaluating the High Value Detainee kill or capture program. The full report is here.

In its key findings, the report warns of the negative consequences of assassinating so-called High Level Targets (HLT), a prediction that has been proven right. “The potential negative effect of HLT operations include increasing the level of insurgent support […], strengthening an armed group's bonds with the population, radicalizing an insurgent group's remaining leaders, creating a vacuum into which more radical groups can enter, and escalating or de-escalating a conflict in ways that favor the insurgents.”

There's even a "best practices" section on targeted killings.

Al-Akhbar analyzes the report. and notes that it finds that the least successful HVT operations are those involving countries that the US and Israel have occupied or are currently at war with.

< Guards Laugh as Inmate Dies: Colorado to Pay $3 Million | Friday Open Thread >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    La CIA Nostra. (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by lentinel on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 07:13:12 AM EST
    When I read things like this, it only confirms what I already suspect:
    that our government is being run as a legitimate business by what once was referred to as the mob.

    This liaison has been in the making for quite awhile, beginning by the corrupting of government officials. Then, with the invasion of Cuba, it became obvious that the interests of the government and the mob were one and the same.

    And the union between the two was joined in unholy matrimony.

    We "take out" people. Our former president and vice-president have used that very language.

    We have evolved acronyms like HVT, which itself is a euphemism someone we want to kill - which has evolved into a compound euphemism as,  "terminating with extreme prejudice" a "high value target" which is an updated version of "whacking a 'problem'".

    "Administration", is always been used to refer to the governing bodies of both organizations. No problem there.

    The high-tech version of the "protection racket", is now known as "keeping us safe".

    From whom we are being kept safe varies from week to week or even day to day, but be assured that there will always been someone from whom we need to be protected.

    Lastly, for the moment, I will mention the beloved "war on drugs" which has kept the mob, and now the government in business for lo these many years.

    I'm looking forward to 2016 so that we can elect a new button to be the new boss.


    I am reminded of a John Gotti story (none / 0) (#3)
    by Dadler on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 08:50:58 AM EST
    I remember a secret recording, where Gotti talking about wanting someone dead by saying, "Put a rocket in his pocket." Now we do that literally, bastions of freedom and justice that we are.

    Parent
    I'm reminded of James Ellroy's take (none / 0) (#4)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 10:20:52 AM EST
    in The Cold Six Thousand.

    Conspiracy and corruption - from sea to shining sea.

    Parent

    CIA judgment? (none / 0) (#1)
    by thomas rogan on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 06:42:30 AM EST
    The CIA has no judgment and knows nothing when it assesses the risks and benefits of enhanced interrogation, but when it enhances the risks and benefits of targeted killings it is somehow run by brilliant strategists?  Assuming, of course, that Wikileaks released every report in the CIA files on the subject.

    It cuts both ways (none / 0) (#5)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 10:25:09 AM EST
    a prediction that has been proven right.

    Killing a high official may anger the group and even increase the group but to not do it is silly.

    I mean, we wouldn't have wanted to kill Hitler and anger the Nazis would we???

    Hopefully (none / 0) (#6)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 11:08:23 AM EST
    Any such attempts wouldn't be as ham-handed as were the ones on Castro's life.

    Parent
    We've come a long ways (none / 0) (#7)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 02:50:26 PM EST
    since then.

    Parent
    Given their (none / 0) (#8)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 03:47:12 PM EST
    recent antics, I'd say that's a very questionable assertion.

    Parent