Customer Reviews

Truth, Torture, and the American Way: The History and Consequences of U.S. Involvement in Torture

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This book chillingly places the Bush Administration's torture policies in the proper historical perspective. The so-called war on terror is not the first time the U.S. has employed abduction, torture, and murder to further its political agenda. As Ms. Harbury thoroughly and unflinchingly reveals, throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s, the United States (directly and by proxy) abducted, tortured, murdered, and "disappeared" thousands of people in El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala, all in the name of fighting communism. It is a history that American nationalists ignore or claim never really happened. It did happen and we are witnessing history repeated itself in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the various nations to which we ship detainees to be tortured. Anyone who cares about human rights should read this book. Anyone who does not care about human rights should also read this book, on the off chance that it may resuscitate his/her soul or conscience.

Ms. Harbury's book is a must read for anyone interested in the facts surrounding America's all too frequent resort to terror and torture. Ms. Harbury is a true patriot who holds up a mirror to America and forces us to take a good long look at what's done by our Government in our name.

I found this a hard book to read because of the information presented. It is depressing to learn that America has such an oppressive government and sponsors torture and right wing terror throughout the world. After reading this book I have researched many more instances of torture funded by the CIA, etc. and it has spurred me to join Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, among other human rights groups. Overall I found the book enlightening and well written and it has made a definite difference in my life.

Harbury is at her best when exploring the CIA's involvement in Latin America. She draws striking parallels between the torture and abuses committed in Central America in the 1980s & 90s and the heinous situation in Iraq today.

Where this book falls flat, however, is in her ability to go beyond a mere expose of the interrogation techniques that have become a matter of policy. Her recommendations for improving our country's adherence to international standards prohibiting torture lack teeth. She makes a very compelling argument about why it is wrong to torture, but does not make a convincing enough exploration of where we go from here. In addition, the parallel she tries to draw at the end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict feels forced and tangential.

Nonetheless, this book succinctly summarizes the major issues concerning the U.S. and torture and is a good primer for someone who may not be as familiar with the issues. Anyone who has kept up with the flood of articles appearing in the Washington Post, the New Yorker, the New York Review of Books and elsewhere, however, may find large pieces of this book repetitive.

This book is a dpressing eye-opener for those who have suspected the CIA's complicity in torture around the world, but never had it confirmed. Read this book and weep for our government.