The Black Banners

This book completely changed my perspective about EIT, or enhanced interrogation techniques. I believed, hook, line & sinker all of the misinformation from the CIA, et. al. regarding the intelligence obtained using these methods. While I have not been supportive of the methods, I was convinced that the information we were gathering was in fact due to torture. From reading this book, however, I learned that all of the intelligence we supposedly gained from torture, was actually gained from traditional interrogation methods and claimed, secretly of course, that this was obtained from these methods.

There were significant redactions of information Mr. Soufan claimed to have been public testimony or information in the public domain. It was actually humorous in parts due to the fact you knew Mr. Soufan was speaking of himself and he had to redact the pronouns I and me. After finishing the book, it became apparent the CIA was attempting to exert payback on Mr. Soufan.

I recommend this book for anyone interested in the investigation into the 1998 US Embassy bombings, the 2000 Cole attack, September 11th or the prosecution of terrorists captured in the wake of these events.