5 Mysterious CIA Black Sites

The CIA has been accused of operating secret prisons, known as “black sites”, around the world, where it detained and interrogated terror suspects in the aftermath of 9/11. These sites were allegedly used to conduct brutal and illegal methods of torture, such as waterboarding, sleep deprivation, and mock executions. The existence and locations of these sites have been shrouded in secrecy and controversy, but some of them have been exposed by investigations, leaks, and lawsuits. Here are five of the most mysterious CIA black sites that have been revealed so far.

Cobalt (The Darkness)

Cobalt, also known as The Darkness, was a CIA black site near Kabul, Afghanistan, that operated from September 2002 to December 2004. It was described as a “dungeon” where prisoners were kept in complete darkness, chained to the walls or the ceiling, and subjected to loud music, extreme temperatures, and physical abuse. One of the prisoners who died at Cobalt was Gul Rahman, a suspected militant who was stripped naked, shackled to the floor, and left to freeze to death in November 2002. His death prompted an internal investigation by the CIA, which found that the site was poorly managed and supervised, and that the interrogators had violated the agency’s guidelines and protocols.

Detention Site Green (Salt Pit)

Detention Site Green, also known as the Salt Pit, was another CIA black site in Afghanistan, located north of Kabul. It was a former brick factory that was converted into a prison in 2002. It was reportedly the largest and most secretive of the CIA’s detention facilities, holding up to 50 prisoners at a time. The conditions at the Salt Pit were harsh and inhumane, with prisoners kept in isolation cells, deprived of food and water, and beaten by guards. One of the prisoners who died at the Salt Pit was Manadel al-Jamadi, an Iraqi who was captured by U.S. forces in 2003 and transferred to the CIA. He was allegedly tortured by a CIA contractor, who broke his ribs and caused his death by suffocation. His body was packed in ice and photographed, creating the infamous image of the “Ice Man”.

Detention Site Blue (Cat’s Eye)

Detention Site Blue, also known as Cat’s Eye, was a CIA black site in Thailand, located in a remote area near the Udon Thani airport. It was the first CIA secret prison to be established after 9/11, and it was used to detain and interrogate high-value targets, such as Abu Zubaydah and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who were both captured in 2002. The interrogations at Cat’s Eye were conducted by CIA operatives and contractors, including James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen, the psychologists who designed the CIA’s “enhanced interrogation techniques”. These techniques included waterboarding, walling, confinement boxes, and threats of harm. The interrogations were videotaped, but the tapes were later destroyed by the CIA in 2005, sparking a criminal investigation and a political scandal.

Detention Site Black (Bright Light)

Detention Site Black, also known as Bright Light, was a CIA black site in Romania, located in a former government building in Bucharest. It was opened in 2003 and closed in 2006, and it was used to detain and interrogate some of the most notorious terror suspects, such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, and Abu Faraj al-Libi, a senior al-Qaeda operative. The prisoners at Bright Light were kept in dark, soundproof cells, and subjected to harsh interrogation methods, such as waterboarding, sleep deprivation, and stress positions. The existence and location of the site were confirmed by a European Parliament report in 2007, and by a former Romanian president in 2011.

Detention Site Violet (Quartz)

Detention Site Violet, also known as Quartz, was a CIA black site in Poland, located in a remote area near the Szymany airport. It was opened in 2002 and closed in 2003, and it was used to detain and interrogate some of the most important al-Qaeda leaders, such as Abu Zubaydah, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The interrogations at Quartz were conducted by CIA officers and contractors, who used brutal and illegal techniques, such as waterboarding, mock executions, and power drills. The site was also visited by senior CIA officials, such as Gina Haspel, the current director of the agency. The existence and location of the site were revealed by media reports, human rights groups, and former Polish officials. In 2014, Poland was found guilty by the European Court of Human Rights of violating the rights of the prisoners and facilitating their torture.

These are just some of the CIA black sites that have been exposed, but there may be more that remain hidden and unknown. The CIA’s secret detention and interrogation program has been widely condemned as a violation of human rights and international law, and as a stain on the reputation and values of the United States. The program was officially ended by President Barack Obama in 2009, but the debate over its legality, morality, and effectiveness continues to this day.