Psyche, Science, and Society

Uwe Jacobs responds to Michael Gelles on psychologists in interrogations

April 6th, 2007

Uwe Jacobs, the Director of Survivors International, which provides treatment for torture victims, has also responded to the recent letter from Michael Gelles on the subject of psychologists’ participation in national security interrogations. Dr. Jacobs points out that Dr. Gelles failed to respond to any of the specific questions he earlier posed. This response joins that of Steven Miles, posted earlier as well as my own response:

April6, 2007

Dr. Michael Gelles
cc Dr. Stephen Behnke
Ethics Office of the APA
Via e-mail

Dear Dr. Gelles,

I have received your reply to my letter from March 23rd. I appreciate your statement of wanting to find common ground but I also expect that you will recognize the need for a second, more detailed reply. Otherwise, I’m afraid the court of public opinion will find your reply nonresponsive. Of the many specific questions I asked, you answered none and the answer to a more general question about the reflections of Alberto Mora came at no expense. You also stated that my questions were based on a misunderstanding of interrogations but neglected to explain what misunderstanding you were referring to. If you feel that you cannot answer the questions I asked you, then it is important to explain the reasons for that. As I indicated before, I have no reason to quarrel with colleagues who are actively striving to do the right thing. However, many of us remain in need of explanations and we cannot trade them in for the assurance that we ought to let the experts handle this and needn’t worry. I look forward to learning more when you address said questions in detail.

Thank you very much!

Uwe Jacobs, PhD
Director, Survivors International
703 Market Street, Suite 301
San Francisco, CA 94103

Dr. Jacobs is pointing to the fact that it is time, or past time, for Dr. Gelles to explain in detail exactly what he witnessed during his time at Guantanamo, and what he did to stop it. As Steven Miles pointed out, he also has to explain why his efforts failed to stop the abuse and why he thinks that future efforts, of essentially the same nature, would have any different result.

Entry Filed under: APA, Guantanamo, Psychology, Rights and Liberties, Torture