Clearly Mr. O'Brien's statement flies in the face of Mr. O'Connor's recommendations, but it also clearly violates Canada's obligations under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which prohibits countries not only from torturing individuals, but also from collaborating in any manner whatsoever in the torture of such individuals.
It is very surprising that over two years after the release of the O'Connor report, a fairly senior official at CSIS would make such a statement. It is not at all reassuring.