The art and heart of interrogation

The Straits Times wrote a feature article about Mark and interrogation methods in their series featuring people in the fight against terror.  Mark said that contrary to popular belief that terrorists are well-trained to resist interrogation techniques, they usually receive little or poor training.  Mark told The Strait Times “No two terrorists are the same, and there is no single silver bullet that will solve all of the interrogator’s problems” but when you treat someone with dignity and respect, they begin to trust you.

Event Date
2014-02-10
Pub/Org
The Straits Times (Singapore)

Murder of US general raised questions about insider attacks in Afghanistan

Mark was interviews on Fox News by Shepherd Smith after an Army general was ambushed and killed and eight other American soldiers were wounded by an Afghan soldier, raising concerns about insider attacks in Afghanistan.  Mark explained that the challenges conducting an investigation in hostile non-permissive environment.  Mark expressed concerns over the insider-threat and cautioned against downsizing counterintelligence and force protection assets, as we downsize the larger forces there.

Event Date
2014-08-06
Pub/Org
Fox News

Statement of National Security, Intelligence and Interrogation Professionals

Human Rights First brought together a high-level team of counterterrorism, interrogation, intelligence and national security professionals to develop a statement of principles about Constitutionally permissible interrogations.  Mark was among this group, who stated torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment are illegal, ineffective, and immoral.  Those practices were unconditionally rejected.  The national security professionals published a statement that torture is illegal, ineffective, and counterproductive.

Event Date
2014-10-01
Pub/Org
Human Rights First

Doctors and Detainees: The Role of Medical Professionals in Counterterrorism Efforts

Mark was interviewed for The Stream on Al Jazeera and discussed the role of medical professionals in torture.  Mark said that the CIA outsourced torture to SERE psychologists lacking meaning experience in interrogation or terrorism to create the EIT program. Mark explained SERE, by design, hardens resistance and that Mitchell and Jessen damaged U.S. national security by the shameful practices they implemented.

Event Date
2014-12-17
Pub/Org
Al Jazeera

Did US torture help track down Osama Bin Laden?

Rev. Al Sharpton talked with Mark about the release of the Senate Torture Report executive summary and whether CIA torture worked. Mark told MSNBC there was no basis for the CIA going down the road to torture and the people who created the program were not interrogation professionals and did not rely on subject matter experts in interrogation.  Mark explained that personnel within the CIA were disgusted by the EIT program and there is no valid information that torture was necessary or effective.

Event Date
2014-12-14
Pub/Org
MSNBC

Views You Can Use: The CIA Torture Report Goes Public

U.S. News Associate Editor referenced Mark in his piece, saying: ‘Mark Fallon, who worked as an interrogator for more than 30 years, wrote in Politico, “It’s official: torture doesn’t work.” Fallon said he has long held that belief, and politicians like former Vice President Dick Cheney who asserted its efficacy (and continue to staunchly defend the CIA’s interrogation program) are just plain wrong. “Yes, torture makes people talk — but what they say is often untrue,” he wrote. Not only is it ineffective, but also incredibly costly – legally, morally and strategically. “Over the coming days, you’ll be hearing numerous torture defenders claim it kept Americans safe,” he wrote. “Don’t believe them.”’

U.S. Develops New ‘Soft” Techniques To End Torture

Mark told Newsweek that preconceived fixation can blind an interrogators judgement to other leads and compromise their judgement.  Mark emphasized that the public’s idea of torture as a necessary evil must change.  He said torture has made us less safe.

Event Date
2015-01-30
Pub/Org
Newsweek

CIA Torture Based on ‘voodoo science’ of advocates – US Intelligence Expert

Sophie Schvardnadze interviewed Mark for Russia Television show called “CIA torture based on ‘voodoo science’ of advocates – US intelligence expert.”  Mark spoke about combating violent extremist, ransom for hostages, and torture.  Mark said the CIA EIT program was ill-advised and not based on any evidence-based research and and the White House, Congress, media and American public were misled.

Event Date
2015-02-12
Pub/Org
RT

Brutal Guantanamo interrogator accused of planting evidence and torturing suspects to extract murder confessions

Daily Mail (UK) reporter Jack Crone quotes Mark in his article on “Brutal Guantanamo interrogator accused of planting evidence and torturing suspects to extract murder confessions during 30-year career as Chicago detective.”  The article focused on former Chicago Police detective Richard Zuley and wrongful convictions based on false confessions.