Jack Wheeler
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003

How can the U.S. quickly and effectively extract information from Saddam Hussein’s brain – information about the Baathist guerrilla network, cooperation with al-Qaeda, and WMD programs – yet withstand the watchdog scrutiny of the media and the Red Cross?

There is a quite simple way. It works the first time, every time, with everybody – no exceptions. Yet it is harmless, completely reversible, with no aftereffects.

First, a little background in brain chemistry. Your brain synthesizes, or manufactures, natural brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, chemical messengers that transmit the appropriate signals through brain circuits for thinking, feeling and motor action.

One such neurotransmitter is called serotonin. Serotonin is an "inhibitory” neurotransmitter, and its constant presence is absolutely required for a normal and non-psychotic state of mind.

Neurotransmitters are synthesized in the cell bodies of the neurons in the brain from specific nutrients in one’s diet. Norepinephrine, for example, responsible for alertness and mental energy, is synthesized from the amino acid phenylalanine and a number of additional co-factors. Caffeine works by stimulating the release and prolonging the activity of norepinephrine.

The neurotransmitter serotonin is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan. Without tryptophan, the brain cannot make serotonin. This mechanism applies not only to the human brain but also to the brain of every animal in the animal kingdom, from dogs to rats to elephants to birds.

There have been numerous experiments that demonstrate the effects of a tryptophan-free diet on brain function in humans. Within about four hours, brain serotonin levels drop like a rock. Lacking the inhibitory regulation of serotonin, the brain becomes incapable of modulation. The individual possessing such a brain rapidly becomes angry, depressed and impulsive – incapable of controlling his emotions.

The last thing a captured terrorist or dictator, intent on withholding information and resistant to interrogation, wants is to be uncontrollably impulsive. Such an individual would be putty in the hands of a skilled interrogator.

The means of converting a terrorist into putty is TFM Interrogation, using tryptophan-free meals (TFMs). Not protein-free meals. Meals engineered to have only tryptophan excluded, and all other essential amino acids present. Protein is, of course, a package or assemblage of various combinations of amino acids.

With a protein-free meal, blood amino levels will drop, causing the liver and other organs to start extracting aminos from blood albumin, then from muscle, then from organ tissue. Such amino extraction will include tryptophan. In other words, deprived of dietary protein, the body will cannibalize itself in order to supply the brain with tryptophan and other vital aminos.

But a meal engineered to provide all necessary aminos except tryptophan exclusively will not cause such cannibalization. The liver has no capacity to notice the lack of one single amino such as tryptophan, just the overall lack of entire assemblies of aminos, or protein.

A TFM is a semi-synthetic meal replacement, prepared in the form of a porridge, for example. It can contain plenty of real starch, plenty of real fat, plenty of real sugar or honey – plenty of real chocolate if desired. What it cannot contain is any complex protein at all.

Instead, it must contain about 30 grams of a synthetic mixture of all essential aminos in crystalline form – specifically excluding tryptophan. Further, such a mixture should contain the same ratio of aminos as milk or meat, but with an extra amount of the aminos phenylalanine and tyrosine, which will both block any tryptophan extracted from the body reaching the brain, and increase the subject’s levels of anxiety and anger.

Three such TFMs should be given to Saddam over 12 hours, with his not having anything to eat prior to the first TFM for several hours. After four hours, Saddam will become agitated, depressed, angry and impulsive. Over the next eight to 12 hours, his symptoms will increase, and he will become suicidal. Should he be subjected to a TFM diet over a period of several days, Saddam would become fully psychotic.

After a round of interrogation during a TFM period, Saddam should then receive a normal meal with complex protein – or simply the TFM with one or two grams of crystalline tryptophan added (it’s tasteless so he won’t notice any difference). He will calm down and feel pleasant. Then a "good cop” interrogator can step in and soothe him. Next mealtime, it’s back to the TFM, and back Saddam goes into uncontrollable impulsiveness – and puttiness in the hands of a "bad cop” interrogator.

No one has to lay a finger on Saddam, or threaten to. No threats of any kind need be made. The interrogators do not even need to raise their voices. There are no side effects or aftereffects of TFM Interrogation. It is completely reversible immediately within an hour or less after one regular non-TFM meal.

TFM Interrogation can be performed in the field, interrogation centers, anywhere. Red Cross observers could be present. They could even analyze the subject’s blood, for whatever they test for, they will never think of testing for a lack of tryptophan. And even if they did, what would be the complaint? Malnutrition? Malnutrition that lasts for less than 24 hours?

A video camera should be rolling on Saddam 24/7: a record to show the world how humanely he is being interrogated – and how he blurts out one unforced impulsive confession after another. Just imagine the impact on the Arab world of hearing and seeing Saddam completely unable to control his emotions and censor his thoughts.

The capture of Saddam Hussein is a major milestone in bringing freedom to Iraq, democracy to the Arab world, and an end to the War on Islamic Terrorism. TFM Interrogation of Saddam is the way to maximize the value of this achievement.

Jack Wheeler is Editor of ToThePoint™, a geopolitical analysis service at www.tothepointnews.com.

Editor's Note: Saddam Hussein – "The Ace of Spades" – has been captured. Get your set of the official Pentagon playing cards – first offered to the public on NewsMax. You can celebrate America and George Bush with these cards – soon to be a collector's item. Also check out our FREE offer for these cards – Click Here Now.

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