How the Gloves Came Off

Loch K. Johnson, Regents Professor, University of Georgia:
One of the most perplexing and disturbing outcomes of the 9/11 attacks and the rise of global terrorism was America's adoption of torture against captured suspected terrorists—so-called detainees. This outstanding book by Elizabeth Grimm Arsenault lays out—in a reliable, scholarly, and readable manner—how this overreach occurred, how it profoundly violated U.S. norms and devotion to human rights, and what might be done to ensure a more appropriate balance between security and liberty for the United States in the future. For my own teaching and research endeavors, I keep this important volume close at hand.

Karen J. Greenberg, Director, Center on National Security at Fordham Law School:
Arsenault's book provides a much-needed historical context for the torture policy that emerged during the post-9/11 years. It is comprehensive, well researched, and, at the same time, digestible.