The so-called ‘black sites’ — which were so covert that only a handful of government officials even knew about them until today — operated over the past four years in eight different countries, including Thailand, Afghanistan and several Eastern European states, according to a story first reported today in the Washington Post.

…”The one overriding reason for such a facility is to torture those in detention,” said Mark Garlasco of Human Rights Watch. “So that they are away from any prying eyes from the public and from the media.”

…A former intelligence official said one reason this story was likely leaked to the press is because some CIA officers don’t believe the program is sustainable and could harm the United States’ reputation.” (ABC News via Noah)