ABSTRACT
Chapter six analyses the use of torture by the US during the ‘war on terror’. Although US torture has led to arguments that the taboo is in regression, this chapter shows that this is not the case. The US denied using torture, redefined it and outsourced it to third countries. Not only does this show that the taboo remained beyond challenge for the US, but the US’ failure to legitimise its definition, and the public outcry it received from using torture, undermined US credibility and counter-terrorism policy and invigorated domestic and international efforts to strengthen the taboo.
