Hypothetical interrogation scenario: how would you proceed?
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 4:03 am
Scenario 1
You are the chief interrogator of your government. A spy working for an enemy state has just been delivered to you. For excitement reasons we will of course imagine her young and beautiful, but that is not really to the point. What is essential, is that she has vital information and your job is to make her talk. All means are at your disposal...
BUT...
... those pesky bureaucrats arranged a prisoner exchange, and you will have to let her go soon. Only a very limited time to extract that info; let's say twelve hours. Plus, if once freed she was to prove she has been tortured (internal damage if objectively detectable counts) it would cause your country a huge embarrassment. It would likely not cost you your job, but would still have dire consequences for you. Even worse would be if she were to die while under your care. In this case losing your job is a certainty, and you might well face a long prison time and, let's say, an intensive course on how to torture properly, experienced first hand. Finally, the worst possible outcome: she doesn't talk at all. In this case, no matter if she's returned unscathed, damaged or dead, you are probably facing a death sentence and a grueling demise.
So how do you proceed?
Keep in mind she's not a cheerleader snatched from the street. She's a tough bitch, well trained in resisting interrogation techniques. She may also try to feed you false information. And remember your priorities:
A) the best possible outcome: she spills the beans, and has no evidence of torture, your word against hers. Big reward incoming.
B) sub-optimal. She talks, but a big international scandal ensues. You may be demoted, probably nothing worse.
C) very bad. She talks, but dies soon after. Your job is gone, prison a strong possibility.
D) the worst possible outcome: she does not yield. No matter even mentioning E (she is freed with proof of torture) and F (she dies without talking). Your life is over anyway.
Again, what do you do to her? At what point do you switch from procedures that leave no trace to harsher measures? And what harsher measures?
I talk about torture, but if you believe other means are more successful feel free to use them. Gaining her trust, tricking her... Just please no fantasy solutions like mind readers. Drugs are fine as long as they are reality based. And keep in mind an injection is traceable and would make outcome A impossible.
Scenario 2
Just as above, but now you are operating not in 2022 but in the XVI century, so your technology is quite limited.
You are the chief interrogator of your government. A spy working for an enemy state has just been delivered to you. For excitement reasons we will of course imagine her young and beautiful, but that is not really to the point. What is essential, is that she has vital information and your job is to make her talk. All means are at your disposal...
BUT...
... those pesky bureaucrats arranged a prisoner exchange, and you will have to let her go soon. Only a very limited time to extract that info; let's say twelve hours. Plus, if once freed she was to prove she has been tortured (internal damage if objectively detectable counts) it would cause your country a huge embarrassment. It would likely not cost you your job, but would still have dire consequences for you. Even worse would be if she were to die while under your care. In this case losing your job is a certainty, and you might well face a long prison time and, let's say, an intensive course on how to torture properly, experienced first hand. Finally, the worst possible outcome: she doesn't talk at all. In this case, no matter if she's returned unscathed, damaged or dead, you are probably facing a death sentence and a grueling demise.
So how do you proceed?
Keep in mind she's not a cheerleader snatched from the street. She's a tough bitch, well trained in resisting interrogation techniques. She may also try to feed you false information. And remember your priorities:
A) the best possible outcome: she spills the beans, and has no evidence of torture, your word against hers. Big reward incoming.
B) sub-optimal. She talks, but a big international scandal ensues. You may be demoted, probably nothing worse.
C) very bad. She talks, but dies soon after. Your job is gone, prison a strong possibility.
D) the worst possible outcome: she does not yield. No matter even mentioning E (she is freed with proof of torture) and F (she dies without talking). Your life is over anyway.
Again, what do you do to her? At what point do you switch from procedures that leave no trace to harsher measures? And what harsher measures?
I talk about torture, but if you believe other means are more successful feel free to use them. Gaining her trust, tricking her... Just please no fantasy solutions like mind readers. Drugs are fine as long as they are reality based. And keep in mind an injection is traceable and would make outcome A impossible.
Scenario 2
Just as above, but now you are operating not in 2022 but in the XVI century, so your technology is quite limited.
