The truth about tough interrogation

"If you watch us often, you know one thing that sets me off is when guests come on the program and say stuff that isn't true. That's what's going on with this so-called torture deal - the far left believes the Bush administration wants to torture people for sport and asserts that making terror suspects uncomfortable is actually torture. In addition, they claim tough interrogation methods never lead to valid information. Today, the Senate continues to debate the coerced interrogation issue. Talking Points believes there will be a compromise - the CIA will be allowed to use some so-called coercive interrogation methods. And that's a good thing, because they do work on some bad people. American interrogators did rough up some captured Al Qaeda terrorists, and those men did give up vital information that that badly damaged terror operations. That is the truth."

ABC News investigative reporter Brian Ross joined The Factor with evidence that coercive interrogation can be effective. "The CIA broke 14 high value leaders in secret prisons," Ross declared. "They used coercive techniques. They started with a slap in the chest, then cold rooms, then sleep deprivation, then waterboarding, where you think you are drowning and about to die. In the case of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the information he gave up was very valuable regarding one plot which would have involved an airplane attack on the tallest building in Los Angeles. It's clear that in several cases coercive interrogation does seem to have an effect, and that's the bottom line." The Factor reiterated that harsh tactics can be useful. "In all 14 cases coerced interrogation was used, and in all 14 cases they gave it up. And you say more than a dozen plots were stopped. I want to make it crystal clear that what we have said is true."

Next, Human Rights Watch's Caroll Bogert joined the program with a diametrically opposed viewpoint. "Torture is a method that should never be used by the United States. Sleep deprivation over days is a form of torture, and waterboarding is unquestionably a form of torture." The Factor reminded Bogert of evidence to the contrary. "Brian Ross just said that 12 plots were thwarted that would have killed thousands of Americans. Are you going to sit there and say those deaths would have been allowed?" "I can't confirm or deny Brian Ross's reporting," Bogert replied, "but you can't say that traditional means of law enforcement would not have produced that same information. You can trick people, you can talk tough with people. I would not deny that torture may in some circumstances produce evidence, but at what cost?"