Abnormal Interests

The official declined to be named but agreed to discuss the program to rebut the assertions that the United States used the program to secretly send people to other countries for the purpose of torture. The transfers were portrayed as an alternative to what American officials have said is the costly, manpower-intensive process of housing them in the United States or in American-run facilities in other countries. (Emphasis added)

Good! The US does it for cost reduction. Well, I guess that's the end of it. I feel much better. And I'm sure the families of the tortured rendered feel better too. And the rendered themselves feel a lot less pain. It was done for cost savings only. Like any other well run enterprise, the US is only outsourcing.

At least I can understand why the spokesperson wanted to remain anonymous. I sure wouldn't want my reputation tarnished by having to make such a ludicrous claim in a public forum with my name attached to it.

For the sake of fairness, retention was valuable to the CIA before 9/11 but under far more restrictive rules. White House approval on a case to case basis was required. But in those bygone days the various administrations didn't understand the economics, they did it for all the wrong reasons (to bring people to trail here or abroad) and on a retail scale. Now the US does it wholesale. According to the Times,

...the C.I.A. has been authorized to transfer prisoners to other countries solely for the purpose of detention and interrogation.

I still wonder why interrogation keeps coming up in these discussions when we are only interested in saving a few bucks.

When I think of this anonymous government spokesperson, I am reminded of "Satan," one of Mark Twain's servants while he was on tour in India. In Following the Equator, Twain recounts the most outrageously unbelievable stories that Satan supposedly told him. Twain then says, "He was not a liar, but he will become one if he keeps it up." The problem with our anonymous spokesperson and Satan is that they both need a lot of practice.

It's hard not to feel a little twinge of sadness for the poor spokesperson. Most people, liberal and conservative alike, who go into government, go there with a strong idealistic spirit. They want to do good, to right wrongs, and they believe they will be able to do great things. And then the day comes when they talk to two New York Times reporters and tell them with a straight face that the reason the government sends prisoners to Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Afghanistan and Pakistan is to save money.

But as usual, Shirley sets me at ease. "The guy sold his soul," she reminds me.