ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

U.S. Army and CIA interrogation manuals

Okay kiddo, imagine you have a really big puzzle in front of you. And you want to find out all the secrets that are hidden in this puzzle. That's kind of what the U.S. Army and CIA interrogation manuals are about. They are like guides that the U.S. government gives to people who are trying to get information from other people.

Now, getting information from people isn't always easy. Some people might not want to give you the information you're looking for, or they might lie to you to try and protect themselves. That's why the U.S. Army and CIA created these manuals – to help people learn how to ask questions and get the answers they need.

But here's the thing, when you're trying to get information from someone, you can't just do whatever you want. There are rules you have to follow. The manuals teach people how to use different techniques to get answers, but they also tell them what they can't do. For example, they can't hurt the person they're talking to, or threaten them with violence. That's against the rules.

The manuals also tell people how to build trust with the person they're trying to get information from. Because if the person doesn't trust you, then they're not going to want to tell you anything. The manuals teach people how to be patient and explain why they want the information. They also tell them to be respectful and treat the other person like a human being.

So in a way, these manuals are like a set of instructions that the U.S. government gives to people who are trying to learn how to ask questions and get answers in a fair and respectful way. Just like how you follow the instructions on the puzzle box to put together all the pieces, the manuals help people put together the information they need to solve a bigger puzzle.