{"id":{"repo_id":"mo-state","oai_identifier":"oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-2409"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mo-state/oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-2409","repository":{"repo_id":"mo-state","name":"Missouri State University","base_url":"https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"Defending the Methods That Defend Us From Terror: U.S. Interrogation Policy and Overcoming Its Negative Implications","abstract":"The central question posed by this study asks whether the negative image of the U.S. interrogation policy is the result of overly-intense techniques or rather a consequence of poor perception management in the War on Terror. This study will argue that the policy and methods used by U.S. interrogators are not excessively harsh and that the bad reputation they have received is due primarily to Washington's inability to manage the perception of these activities. This issue is important because relatively minor abuses and isolated incidents (e.g. the Abu Ghraib prison scandal) have managed to manipulate opinion to the extent that effective policies such as coercive interrogation are in danger of being discontinued. The United States needs to better protect its image and prevent its opponents from derailing its policies. Current U.S. interrogation policy, one which employs coercion, is not only successful in fighting terrorism, it is indispensable. Without it, intelligence capabilities become diminished and the United States is left vulnerable, like it was on 9/11. Interrogation may be a dirty business at times, but terrorism is a far darker enterprise. Despite this fact, terrorists and other enemies have undermined interrogation efforts and demonstrated that they can manipulate U.S. policy.","abstract_html":"The central question posed by this study asks whether the negative image of the U.S. interrogation policy is the result of overly-intense techniques or rather a consequence of poor perception management in the War on Terror. This study will argue that the policy and methods used by U.S. interrogators are not excessively harsh and that the bad reputation they have received is due primarily to Washington's inability to manage the perception of these activities. This issue is important because relatively minor abuses and isolated incidents (e.g. the Abu Ghraib prison scandal) have managed to manipulate opinion to the extent that effective policies such as coercive interrogation are in danger of being discontinued. The United States needs to better protect its image and prevent its opponents from derailing its policies. Current U.S. interrogation policy, one which employs coercion, is not only successful in fighting terrorism, it is indispensable. Without it, intelligence capabilities become diminished and the United States is left vulnerable, like it was on 9/11. Interrogation may be a dirty business at times, but terrorism is a far darker enterprise. Despite this fact, terrorists and other enemies have undermined interrogation efforts and demonstrated that they can manipulate U.S. policy.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Downs, Randall C."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies","degree_level":"Masters","degree_discipline":"Defense and Strategic Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Bradley Thayer"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2006,"date_issued":"2006-05-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2006-05-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:16:37Z","subjects":["interrogation","coercion","abuse","torture","perception management","Defense and Security Studies"],"languages":[],"rights":["© Randall C. Downs"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1408","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Bradley Thayer"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Downs, Randall C."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Defense and Strategic Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["interrogation","coercion","abuse","torture","perception management","Defense and Security Studies"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["© Randall C. Downs"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1408"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The central question posed by this study asks whether the negative image of the U.S. interrogation policy is the result of overly-intense techniques or rather a consequence of poor perception management in the War on Terror. This study will argue that the policy and methods used by U.S. interrogators are not excessively harsh and that the bad reputation they have received is due primarily to Washington's inability to manage the perception of these activities. This issue is important because relatively minor abuses and isolated incidents (e.g. the Abu Ghraib prison scandal) have managed to manipulate opinion to the extent that effective policies such as coercive interrogation are in danger of being discontinued. The United States needs to better protect its image and prevent its opponents from derailing its policies. Current U.S. interrogation policy, one which employs coercion, is not only successful in fighting terrorism, it is indispensable. Without it, intelligence capabilities become diminished and the United States is left vulnerable, like it was on 9/11. Interrogation may be a dirty business at times, but terrorism is a far darker enterprise. Despite this fact, terrorists and other enemies have undermined interrogation efforts and demonstrated that they can manipulate U.S. policy."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Defending the Methods That Defend Us From Terror: U.S. Interrogation Policy and Overcoming Its Negative Implications"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Bradley Thayer"],"dc:creator":["Downs, Randall C."],"dc:description.abstract":["The central question posed by this study asks whether the negative image of the U.S. interrogation policy is the result of overly-intense techniques or rather a consequence of poor perception management in the War on Terror. This study will argue that the policy and methods used by U.S. interrogators are not excessively harsh and that the bad reputation they have received is due primarily to Washington's inability to manage the perception of these activities. This issue is important because relatively minor abuses and isolated incidents (e.g. the Abu Ghraib prison scandal) have managed to manipulate opinion to the extent that effective policies such as coercive interrogation are in danger of being discontinued. The United States needs to better protect its image and prevent its opponents from derailing its policies. Current U.S. interrogation policy, one which employs coercion, is not only successful in fighting terrorism, it is indispensable. Without it, intelligence capabilities become diminished and the United States is left vulnerable, like it was on 9/11. Interrogation may be a dirty business at times, but terrorism is a far darker enterprise. Despite this fact, terrorists and other enemies have undermined interrogation efforts and demonstrated that they can manipulate U.S. policy."],"dc:identifier":["https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1408"],"dc:rights":["© Randall C. Downs"],"dc:subject":["interrogation","coercion","abuse","torture","perception management","Defense and Security Studies"],"dc:title":["Defending the Methods That Defend Us From Terror: U.S. Interrogation Policy and Overcoming Its Negative Implications"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Defense and Strategic Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:16:37Z"}