WASHINGTON // As the dust settles after the killing of Osama bin Laden, questions are being raised about the United States' counterterrorism efforts.
While details of the intelligence-gathering efforts that led to the operation in Abbottabad are far from clear, aspects of that effort, particularly the use of so called "enhanced interrogation methods" (EIMs), have sparked a debate that transcends security and reaches the bedrock of American ideals.
The EIM programme was developed after the September 11 attacks on the United States and it encompasses a wide range of techniques. It includes everything from waterboarding (a method of simulated drowning now banned under the administration of President Barack Obama) to regulating a prisoner's diet, personal humiliation, sleep deprivation, and the "tummy slap", a hard open-handed slap to the stomach.
The programme was deeply controversial from the outset. One of its opponents was John McCain, a former Vietnam prisoner of war turned senator, who still bears the scars of torture by North Vietnamese forces.
Speaking on Fox News Sunday on May 29, Mr McCain, who is also the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, lashed out at Rick Santorum, a former US senator who had attacked his stance on EIMs.
Mr McCain questioned the reliabilty of EIM, claiming that it produces good and bad information.
But it is the effectiveness of EIM that proponents cite in its defence.
Marc Thiessen, a former speechwriter for George W Bush, the former US president, argued that the programme was responsible for "more than 50 per cent of the information we had about al Qa'eda after 2006".
Some interrogators dispute this. Matthew Alexander, a former military interrogator who oversaw more than 1,300 interrogations in Iraq and has written two books on interrogation, was unequivocal in his condemnation of the EIM program.
Mr Alexander said that he never saw EIMs work in Iraq. "By using them, we are admitting that our enemies are smarter than us in the interrogation room. They have no place in US operations," he said.
Mr Alexander added that EIMs actually impeded US efforts to pursue bin Laden.
A letter from Leon Panetta, the CIA director, to Mr McCain, published in part by the Washington Post, seems to raise questions about the intelligence secured in the hunt for bin Laden: "…[S]ome detainees who were subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques attempted to provide false or misleading information about the facilitator/courier [Abu Ahmad al-Kuwaiti]. These attempts to falsify the facilitator/courier's role were alerting," Mr Panetta wrote.
In addition, the EIM programme may have ultimately undermined the US on another, perhaps more fragile front: its image and its claim to the moral high ground.
"In the long-term war", Mr Alexander said, "we must deny al Qa'eda the ability to recruit new fighters in order to be able to end this conflict.
He said that EIMs "have only made it exponentially easier for violent extremists to find new recruits."
Mr Thiessen, however, argues that any such blights to the image of the US are the consequence of lies perpetuated about the brutality of these methods, and that the EIM program ultimately did not amount to torture of any sort.
Such an assertion is contradicted by civil-rights lawyers, such as Amrit Singh, a legal officer at the Open Society Justice Initiative, who argue that "enhanced interrogation methods" are a euphemism for torture.
Ms Singh says the EIM programme is a "stain" on the reputation of the US both domestically and abroad that will "cost the United States dearly in terms of its prior reputation as the upholder of human rights worldwide".
Mr Alexander is quick to point out that even if the EIM programme were effective, that would not be justification for its use, just as the effectiveness of chemical weapons would not legitimise their use.
Moreover, the historical record suggests it is counterproductive to allow security to override values and principles, he said.
David Rittgers, a legal policy analyst at the Cato institute, a Washington think tank, said: "If you look at the Battle of Algiers, the French ruthlessly used what is unquestionably torture to dismantle the Algerian movement that they faced. They may have won the Battle of Algiers, but they lost Algeria because of the way that they fought that war."
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
Gender pay parity on track in the UAE
The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.
"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."
Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.
"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.
As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The five pillars of Islam
Ready Player One
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Scores
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Company%20Profile
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
