

#2392 - John Kiriakou
315 snips Oct 10, 2025
John Kiriakou, a former CIA counterterrorism officer and whistleblower, shares gripping insights into his experiences and the dark realities of enhanced interrogation techniques. He discusses tracking Abu Zubaydah and his ethical objections to torture methods like waterboarding. Kiriakou details his arrest and the fallout from exposing the CIA’s practices, reflecting on the deep state and the complexities of intelligence work. He also addresses the shifting geopolitical landscape, warning about the long-term threat posed by China and the risks of misinformation.
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Capture And Transfer Of Abu Zubaydah
- John Kiriakou recounts capturing Abu Zubaydah in 2002 and handing him to other agencies on a plane tied to a gurney.
- He emphasizes he was kept off details by need-to-know rules and moved the prisoner from point A to point B.
Training Refusal Marked Career Consequences
- John realized the CIA's "enhanced interrogation techniques" were a torture program sanctioned from the top.
- He saw internal pressure and career consequences for refusing to participate in the program.
Techniques, Escalation, And Fatal Consequences
- Kiriakou lists the escalation of techniques from slaps to waterboarding, cold cells, and sleep deprivation.
- He reports that some techniques caused deaths and were not properly constrained by protocols.