Tony Lagouranis, former U.S. interrogator, makes an appearance on Talk of the Nation to discuss Fear Up Harsh: An Army Interrogator’s Dark Journey Through Iraq, a memoir on the tactics he used at Abu Ghraib, including stress positions, environmental manipulation, military dogs, sleep deprivation and, in one case, a mock execution.

In the interview, Lagouranis talks about his training as an interrogator and the shock and confusion he endured when he realized that the U.S. military was deliberately going against certain aspects of the Geneva Convention laws. He admits that the techniques in question never actually worked. “People only tell you things when they want to tell you things, and causing somebody pain, duress, is only going to strengthen their resolve.” He also entertains callers’ questions, during which he discusses the gray areas and moral issues he had to endure throughout his tour in Iraq, and whether the military’s disregard for the Geneva Convention was the reason why the scandal at Abu Ghraib happened.

Listen to the interview here.

Lagouranis also appeared on Diane Rehm early last week. Listen to that interview here.