CIA's Use of "Rectal Feeding" Exposed by Whistleblower - Calls for Investigation and Accountability Grow

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In a shocking revelation, a former C.I.A. medical officer has described and denounced the agency's practice of "rectal feeding" of prisoners. The officer, who has chosen to remain anonymous, has spoken out against the barbaric practice, which he says is a clear violation of medical ethics and human rights.

According to the officer, rectal feeding was used as a form of punishment for prisoners who refused to eat or drink. The technique involved the insertion of a tube into the rectum, through which a nutrient-rich solution was pumped. The officer describes the process as extremely painful and traumatic, causing intense physical and psychological distress to the prisoners.

The officer first became aware of the practice in 2002, when he was serving as a medical officer at a secret C.I.A. detention facility. He says that he was initially told that rectal feeding was a "medical necessity" to keep the prisoners alive, but soon realized that it was being used as a form of torture.

"I was horrified when I saw what was happening," he says. "These prisoners were being subjected to the most degrading and inhumane treatment imaginable, all in the name of national security."

The officer says that he immediately raised his concerns with his superiors, but was told to keep quiet and not to ask too many questions. He says that he felt helpless and frustrated, unable to speak out against the abuse that he was witnessing.

It was only in 2014, when the Senate Intelligence Committee released its report on the C.I.A.'s detention and interrogation program, that the officer's suspicions were confirmed. The report, which was heavily redacted, described the use of rectal feeding as a form of "enhanced interrogation technique," and revealed that it had been used on at least five prisoners.

The officer says that he was deeply disturbed by the revelations, but also relieved that the truth had finally been exposed. He says that he hopes that his testimony will help to raise awareness about the dangers of unchecked government power, and the need for greater transparency and accountability.

"I believe that we have a duty to speak out against abuses of power, no matter how uncomfortable or unpopular it may be," he says. "We cannot allow our government to act with impunity, or to trample on the rights and dignity of human beings."

The officer's testimony has sparked outrage among human rights advocates and medical professionals, who have condemned the C.I.A.'s use of rectal feeding as a clear violation of medical ethics and human rights.

Dr. Thomas May, a medical ethicist at the University of California, says that the practice is "unconscionable" and "morally indefensible."

"Medical professionals have a duty to uphold the principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, and respect for persons," he says. "The use of rectal feeding as a form of punishment clearly violates these principles, and is a blatant abuse of power."

Dr. May says that the C.I.A.'s use of rectal feeding raises serious questions about the role of medical professionals in government agencies, and the need for greater oversight and accountability.

"We need to have a serious conversation about the ethical responsibilities of medical professionals in settings of detention and interrogation," he says. "We cannot allow medical professionals to be co-opted into the machinery of torture and abuse."

The C.I.A. has not yet responded to the officer's allegations, but has previously defended its detention and interrogation program as necessary to protect national security.

However, human rights advocates say that the use of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment is not only morally reprehensible, but also counterproductive.

"The use of torture undermines the very values that we are trying to protect," says Sarah Margon, Washington director at Human Rights Watch. "It erodes the rule of law, damages our international reputation, and undermines our national security. We cannot claim to be champions of democracy and human rights while engaging in practices that violate those very principles."

In response to the officer's testimony, several lawmakers have called for an investigation into the C.I.A.'s detention and interrogation program, and for greater transparency and accountability in government agencies.

Senator Mark Warner, the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, says that the use of rectal feeding is "deeply troubling" and raises serious questions about the C.I.A.'s compliance with the law and respect for human rights.

"We need to ensure that our intelligence agencies are operating within the bounds of the law and with respect for human rights," he says. "I will be working with my colleagues to get to the bottom of this and to hold those responsible accountable."

The officer says that he hopes his testimony will encourage others to come forward and speak out against abuses of power.

"I know that there are other people out there who have witnessed similar abuses and who are struggling with the decision to speak out," he says. "I want them to know that they are not alone, and that their voices matter. We need to stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult or unpopular."

The use of rectal feeding is just one of many abuses that have been uncovered in the C.I.A.'s detention and interrogation program. Other techniques included waterboarding, sleep deprivation, and prolonged isolation, all of which have been widely condemned as forms of torture.

The officer's testimony is a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked government power, and the need for greater transparency and accountability in our intelligence agencies. As a society, we must continue to demand that our government respects the dignity and rights of all human beings, and that those who abuse their power are held accountable for their actions.