American public reaction to the investigative report on the CIA.

(Baonghean) - Following the release of the congressional investigation report on the CIA's use of torture during interrogations on Tuesday, the CIA is now facing a wave of criticism from both domestic and international public opinion.

In a CNN column, the newspaper argued that the US had no choice but to once again confront a "dark period" in its history to avoid repeating this mistake. Meanwhile, News & Observer wrote, "The documents released are horrific, but the release of this report is a positive sign and helps reassure the public." According to News & Observer, today, the public needs to be aware of the distortion of "national security" taking place. Another editorial stated, "What is happening is a disgrace to our country… America is determined to seek justice and is ready to learn from scratch, since America has acted contrary to its ideals."

This image simulates the "waterboarding" technique, a torture method the CIA used on suspected terrorists at the Department of Justice in Washington in 2007. Photo: Kevin Lamarque

In the Washington Post, Ruth Marcus emphasized, “It’s disgusting to call those actions a national responsibility. Every nation, like an individual, cannot overcome the damage of not being able to control its own actions.” The CIA tarnished national principles, and its actions were tantamount to enabling other nations to engage in similar behavior. According to David Ignatius, confronting the past is the first step toward saving a nation. Ignatius asserted that blaming a single agency entirely is almost dishonest; it must be placed within the context of the entire system.

For its part, The Chicago Tribune argues that Americans are gradually becoming accustomed to what they consider acceptable ways of seeking information. And one day, they will discover the true nature of “the frantic efforts that authorities are making to protect them.” The newspaper hypothesizes what would happen if the CIA continued its interrogation practices according to established rules, given the possibility of an attack similar to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The safety of the public must always be the top priority.

Regarding this issue, The New York Times highlighted a crucial point: accountability. According to the Florida newspaper, “Americans are not naive. The nature of the CIA is to carry out covert operations like this, especially against bad actors who threaten the country’s interests. But someone who issued the orders within the CIA must be held accountable for these actions.” Sharing the same view as the Florida, the NYT argued that the fact that the authorities were not punished was what was shocking: “The report provides new information, but the question is why no one is being held accountable for these crimes – high-ranking officials, low-ranking officials, or those who covered up the crimes by destroying video evidence or trying to obstruct Senate investigations.”

Chu Thanh

(According to LeMonde, December 10)