Background
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, the CIA initiated a program of enhanced interrogation techniques for detainees suspected of terrorism. These techniques included waterboarding, stress positions, and other methods considered by many to constitute torture.
Events
Between 2001 and 2009, numerous detainees were held at CIA “black sites†worldwide. Reports and investigations revealed that techniques were often applied in ways that violated international law and human rights standards. The program drew scrutiny from the media, Congress, and human rights organizations.
Impact & Legacy
The program led to global condemnation, internal CIA reviews, and debates over the limits of national security authority. Several reports, including the Senate Intelligence Committee’s 2014 report, criticized the program for inefficiency, false claims of effectiveness, and abuse. It remains a landmark case in U.S. intelligence oversight and ethics.