Coercive measures work

Michael Marks is wrong, and what is worse, he must know it [“Torture interrogations do not work,” Opinion, Jan. 8].

Coercive interrogation does work quite well where it has been determined that the subject knows but elects to withhold the required information. Marks’ “rapport-based” interrogation, while perhaps politically correct, only works on “rapport-based” subjects, and they are few in the terrorist community and are usually informed of little if any vital data as they by definition cannot be depended upon to secure it.

Foolishly calling noninjurious, coercive interrogation like waterboarding “torture” trivializes the suffering of legitimate torture victims and it shamefully ignores that coercive interrogation saves countless American lives, both military and civilian.

--William Slusher, Okanogan