Harsh interrogations yielded ‘crucial’ post-9/11 intelligence on Al Qaida Versus Obama Tickle Torture.

The controversy over CIA interrogations has produced some of the first secret reports on the information produced by senior Al Qaida that led to the thwarting of terrorist attacks.

While most press reporting has focused on the 2004 CIA inspector general report detailing alleged harsh interrogation techniques, the most significant details of harsh interrogation are contained in two documents declassified by the CIA and known as the Cheney documents, because they were requested in April by the former vice president and initially rejected for release by CIA.

The June 3, 2005 report “Detainee Reporting Pivotal for the War Against Al Qaida,” reveals that a laptop belonging to key Al Qaida financier Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, a nephew of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, was seized in March 2003 and “represented Al Qaida members who were to receive funds”.

“The information… helped us to better understand Al Qaida’s hierarchy, revenues, and expenditures, … as well as funds that were available to families,” the report said.

The CIA report, partially declassified, shows that the CIA did not have a good understanding of Al Qaida prior to 9/11 and that interrogations of captured leaders helped to reveal key details of networks and some operations.

The report stated that since 9/11 detainee intelligence reporting was “a crucial pillar of U.S. counterterrorism efforts, aiding intelligence and law enforcement operations to capture additional terrorists, helping to thwart terrorist plots and advancing our analysis of the Al Qaida target,” the report said.

“In addition, detainees have been able to clarify and provide context for information collected from other sources; they have also provided unique insights into different aspects of the terrorist organization, including its leadership, attack strategic and tactics, and [chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear] capabilities and ambitions,” it stated.”

Contrary to views expressed by many liberal media pundits, the report states that Abu Zubaydah “provided details about Al Qaida’s organization structure, key operatives and modus operandi.” Additionally, the CIA said Zubaydah identified Khalid Sheikh Mohammad as the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.