Ep 5. Secret Prisons

In the third season of Codes & Conspiracies, the fifth episode titled "Secret Prisons" delves into one of the most shadowy parts of the history of the United States intelligence community: the existence of secret prisons. While the US government has acknowledged that these so-called "black sites" do exist, the details surrounding their operations and whereabouts remain highly classified.

The episode begins with a historical overview of how the use of secret prisons by the US government became prevalent. The practice of extensive interrogation of prisoners in places that were outside the purview of public oversight began in the mid-20th century, particularly after the July 21, 1969, Che Guevara’s execution. The CIA's rendition program, which involved the secret detention and interrogation of suspected terrorists and other high-value targets, began to gain prominence in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

However, it wasn't until the Abu Ghraib prison scandal in 2004 that the public became aware of the existence of secret prisons in the United States. The scandal, which involved the mistreatment and torture of Iraqi prisoners by US soldiers, led to an investigation that uncovered the fact that the CIA was operating a network of secret prisons around the globe.

The episode then takes us on a journey through some of the most notorious secret prisons run by the CIA, including the so-called "Salt Pit" prison in Afghanistan, which was notorious for its brutal interrogations and the use of torture techniques such as waterboarding.

We learn about the elaborate methods the CIA used to keep these prisons hidden from public scrutiny, including the use of false names for the prisoners and the facilities themselves, as well as the transport of prisoners through a complex network of secret flights and black sites.

The episode also explores the legal and ethical dilemmas surrounding the use of secret prisons by the US government. Critics argue that the practice violates international law, as well as basic human rights, and that the information gathered through such interrogations is often unreliable. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that the intelligence gathered through these methods can help prevent future terrorist attacks.

The episode concludes by looking at the legacy of the CIA's secret prisons. While some of the facilities have been shut down in recent years, the US government still has the ability to detain and interrogate people in secret locations. The episode underlines that the use of secret prisons is still an important and sensitive issue for the US government, particularly in the face of ongoing threats from international terrorism.