[Xmca-l] Fwd: Release of the Final Report of the Special Investigator

[mike cole]

Here is the APA notice sent out to association members that compliments
Michael Glassman's earlier note from the Times.

At a recent conference on cultural evolution, a number of the participants
were identified
institutionally as being attached to research arms of the military. The
purchase of academics was not invented by W and not ended by Obama and not
limited to the United States.

mike

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Governance Affairs Office <governance@apa.org>
Date: Sat, Jul 11, 2015 at 5:00 AM
Subject: Release of the Final Report of the Special Investigator
To: mcole@ucsd.edu




Dear Members,



The APA Board of Directors commissioned Mr. David Hoffman of Sidley Austin
to do a thorough and independent review related to allegations of a
relationship the APA and Bush Administration related to the use of abusive
interrogation techniques during the War on Terror.  The report was recently
received confidentially by Council who were in the process of providing
recommendations to the Board when it was leaked to the New York Times. We
had planned on a public release this coming week after Council’s input, but
we have now posted the complete report on the APA website along with a
press release that includes the Board’s initial recommendations. The
supporting documents will be made available on our website this weekend.



The conclusions of the Independent Review report are deeply disturbing. Mr.
Hoffman found evidence of an ongoing pattern of collusion between a small
group of APA representatives and the Department of Defense. The Hoffman
report states that the intent of the individuals who participated in the
collusion was to "curry favor" with the Defense Department, and that may
have enabled the government's use of abusive interrogation techniques. As a
result, the 2005 PENS report became a document based at least as much on
the desires of the DoD as on the needs of the psychology profession and the
APA's commitment to human rights.  Mr. Hoffman did not find evidence of
collusion with the CIA or in the 2002 change to our Code of Ethics.



The Hoffman report clearly writes a difficult chapter in our organization’s
history.  We sincerely apologize for the actions, policies and lack of
independence from governmental influence detailed in the report.  Our
members, our organization, our profession, and the public expected and
deserved better.  We have announced a series of corrective actions related
to policies and procedures to strengthen our organization and demonstrate
our commitment to ethics and human rights.



We realize it is a lengthy document, but encourage you to read the full
report.  Although the Executive Summary thoroughly overviews the findings,
the specific details that provide the background (emails and interview
data) are in the actual document. Reading the full document will help you
to better understand how Mr. Hoffman came to his conclusions.



As troubling as the findings are, it is important that they have come to
light so we can address them in a systematic and thoughtful way.  As a
result of the report, there will be significant changes in the
organization, in terms of both policies and procedures. Dr. Stephen Behnke
is no longer an employee of APA as a result of the findings in the Hoffman
report, and other personnel actions are under consideration.



APA as an organization is a tremendous force for good in the world. Our
members and our staff include so many talented, committed, and ethical
psychologists.  Our task now is to use what we have learned to ensure that
something like this can never happen again, to return to a focus on our
core values in everything we do, and to work to regain the trust of both
our members and the public.



The months ahead will be very challenging for the association. We have much
work ahead of us to address the findings of the report and to move toward
healing. Nothing will *ever* undo what was done in the past, and we cannot
deny that it is a stain on the honor of “Psychology,” but we must and we
will return to our roots to rebuild a new organization of which all of us
can be proud.  With your patience, support and engagement, we truly believe
that we can come through this painful time an even stronger organization.



Sincerely,







Drs. Nadine Kaslow and Susan McDaniel

The APA Independent Review’s Special Committee



-- 

All there is to thinking is seeing something noticeable which makes
you see something you weren't noticing which makes you see something
that isn't even visible. N. McLean, *A River Runs Through it*