US
President Donald Trump openly supports "waterboarding" or torture in
gathering information from insurgents and terrorist forces, which would mean
re-igniting a "special" relationship by the UK with the United States
would mean an intelligence gathering-method conundrum for UK intelligence
services department MI6 and MI5 who are working closely with US intelligence.
According
to a former British diplomat, it would mean intelligence gathering in
conflicted areas in Asia and the Middle East would have difficulties given it
would be "torn between a moral and legal obligation not to be involved
with torture" yet may relent because of "their heavy dependence on
the United States."
All
intelligence service agencies of the United Kingdom, Canada and Europe are by
their respective laws opposed to torture in intelligence gathering. According
to The Guardian, they are to absent themselves from the torture room -- a
typical practice during CIA intelligence gathering operations during the Iraq
and Afghanistan campaigns.
Former MI6
Chief Sir John Sawers said torture is illegal and abhorrent and the agency --
during the 9/11 War on Terrorism campaign -- had to deal with "real,
constant dilemmas" to avoid using torture-sourced intelligence but
admitted it did yield useful information.
