USA Counterterrorism and the CIA Detention and Interrogation Program – between Legislative Constraint and Exceptional Permissiveness

Authors

  • Lucian BUCIU The" Carol I" National Defense University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53477/2284-9378-25-26

Keywords:

CIA, USA, counterterrorism, enhanced interrogation, intelligence, legislation, exceptionality.

Abstract

In the war launched against terrorism of Islamic fundamentalist origin in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11), the US was under pressure of time to implement a series of exceptional measures to combat terrorists and protect the security of the American state. To that end, US counterterrorism, in a time race against terrorists, was coordinated by the CIA through the operationalization of a series of enhanced interrogation techniques, an integral part of the Detention and Interrogation Program developed by the Agency. Through the qualitative method of document analysis, this research aims to assess the effectiveness of the enhanced interrogation techniques developed by the CIA, simultaneously relying on a dual content analysis: on the one hand, an analysis of the first 10 findings of the Report of the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program and, on the other hand, an analysis of the evidence provided by top policy makers and former US intelligence operatives. The novelty of the subject of this scientific contribution for the Romanian literature on American counterterrorism resides in the fact that, in order to maximize the degree of objectivity in assessing the effectiveness of the Agency’s enhanced interrogation techniques, it confronts the legislative dimension highlighted by the Commission Report and the information-operational dimension supported by factual elements selected from key actors within the American intelligence.

Author Biography

Lucian BUCIU, The" Carol I" National Defense University

Lucian BUCIU obtained a Bachelor's degree in Philology, French Language and Literature – German Language and Literature, at the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of Bucharest, in 2015. In 2017 he obtained a Master's degree in Philology, Intercultural Literary and Linguistic Communication Strategies, German Studies module, at the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of Bucharest.

In accordance with the Order of the Minister of Education No. 4155 of 10.05.2023, following the validation by the CNATDCU of his doctoral thesis entitled Perspectives on strengthening counterterrorism policy in Romania, publicly defended on 29.09.2022 at the National School of Political and Administrative Studies (SNSPA) of Bucharest and rated    “Very good”  by the public defence committee, he holds the title of Doctor of Political Science.

From 2016 to 2020, he worked at the Foreign Language Center of “Carol I” National Defense University of the Ministry of National Defense. He was engaged in teaching French and German, attended scientific conferences and published specialty articles. Meanwhile, he also held delegated responsibilities within the International Relations Service – Office of the Chief of Defence Staff and within the Defence Policy Directorate – Department for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations. He also taught German at the National Military Circle. 

Between 2020 and 2021, he worked at the Training Office of the Romanian Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with main responsibilities in organizing training programs in diplomacy and foreign policy, while also publishing specialized articles.

Since 2021 he has been working at the Directorate General for European Affairs, Schengen and International Relations within the central apparatus of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Currently an employee of the External Protocol Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he performs protocol-related functions within the central apparatus of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

His main scientific papers include:

Al-Qaeda and hyperterrorism – the successful emergence of binladenism at global level, ISSN 2668-1994 (print), ISSN-L 2668-1994, ISSN 2668-2001 (online); 

NATO and counter-terrorism, ISSN 2668-1994, ISSN-L 2668-1994; 

Islamic terrorism and cyber war – two current threats to the European security environment, ISSN 2285-8318, ISSN-L 2285-8318; 

Public perceptions in the Federal Republic of Germany on the possible withdrawal of some 12.000 US troops, ISSN 2066-5989; 

The role of interethnic communication in the internal stability of states and the avoidance of external threats. A case study on the Saxons of Valea Viilor (Wurmloch) – Sibiu county, ISSN (online) 2284-9378.

References

Barna, C., and A. Popa. 2021. Forme de manifestare a terorismului în societatea contemporană.București: Editura Top Form.

Bourdillon, Y. 2007. Terrorisme de l’Apocalypse. Enquête sur les idéologies de destruction massive. Paris: Ellipses.

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MacArthur, J. R., and S. Horton. 2015. La CIA et la torture. Paris: Les Arènes.

Parlamentul României. 2004. Legea nr. 535 din 25 noiembrie 2004 privind prevenirea și combaterea terorismului, cu modificările și completările ulterioare. Publicat în Monitorul Oficial nr. 1.161 din 8 decembrie 2004. Retrieved from https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/57494

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Rodriguez JR, J. A. 2014. Măsuri extreme. Cum au salvat măsurile dure adoptate de CIA după 11 septembrie viețile cetățenilor americani. București: Editura RAO.

Șandor, S. D. 2013. Metode şi tehnici de cercetare în ştiinţele sociale. București: Editura Tritonic. United States Senate. 2014. Report of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Committee Study of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Detention and Interrogation Program, together with Foreword by Chairman Feinstein and Additional and Minority Views. Unclassified. Retrieved from https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/publications/CRPT-113srpt288.pdf

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Published

2025-06-30

How to Cite

BUCIU, L. (2025). USA Counterterrorism and the CIA Detention and Interrogation Program – between Legislative Constraint and Exceptional Permissiveness. BULLETIN OF "CAROL I" NATIONAL DEFENCE UNIVERSITY, 14(2), 237–246. https://doi.org/10.53477/2284-9378-25-26

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2025)

Section

Articles

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