Is Coercive Interrogation of Terrorist Suspects Effective? A Response to Bagaric and Clarke

Abstract

This article examines claims regarding the effectiveness of coercive interrogation as an interrogation tool used to produce intelligence to prevent acts of terrorism. The article draws on a wide range of historic and contemporary sources in concluding that there are a range of inherent problems in using coercive methods, such as torture, to gain reliable, timely life-saving intelligence. This paper also considers one further issue - the importance of debating the question of effectiveness to establish the reliability of various claims made by those proposing a system of legalised torture.

Keywords: Torture, coercive interrogation, terrorism, effectiveness, 'torture debate'