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US interrogation debate detailed | |
(about 22 hours later) | |
US military lawyers have been detailing the development of harsh interrogation techniques used at Guantanamo Bay and other detention centres. | |
They told the Senate that methods such as sensory deprivation and simulated drowning were based on training given to soldiers on resisting interrogation. | |
The lawyers said they had raised concerns about the legality of the techniques as far back as 2002. | |
The White House responded by saying the US had treated all detainees humanely. | The White House responded by saying the US had treated all detainees humanely. |
"Abuse of detainees has never been, is not and will never be the policy of this government," spokesman Tony Fratto said. | "Abuse of detainees has never been, is not and will never be the policy of this government," spokesman Tony Fratto said. |
"The policy of this government has been to take these detainees and to interrogate them, and get the information that we can get to help protect this country," he added. | "The policy of this government has been to take these detainees and to interrogate them, and get the information that we can get to help protect this country," he added. |
'Subject to perception' | 'Subject to perception' |
The lawyers' comments on the development of the controversial interrogation techniques employed by the US military and security services were released as part of the initial findings of a report by the Senate Armed Services Committee. | |
If we use those same techniques offensively against detainees, it says to the world that they have America's stamp of approval Sen Carl LevinArmed Services Committee | |
The Pentagon's general counsel, William Haynes, sought information as early as July 2002 - nine months after the 11 September 2001 attacks - about training given to US military personnel on how to resist enemy interrogation. | The Pentagon's general counsel, William Haynes, sought information as early as July 2002 - nine months after the 11 September 2001 attacks - about training given to US military personnel on how to resist enemy interrogation. |
The Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (Sere) programme is based on the experiences of US prisoners of war in previous conflicts. | The Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (Sere) programme is based on the experiences of US prisoners of war in previous conflicts. |
Serve trainers provided Mr Haynes with a list of techniques, including sensory deprivation, sleep disruption, water-boarding and stress positions. | |
Several were approved by the then Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, in December 2002 despite objections by military lawyers. | Several were approved by the then Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, in December 2002 despite objections by military lawyers. |
"If we mistreat detainees, we will quickly lose the [moral] high ground and public support will erode," warned Col John Ley of the Army's Judge Advocate General's office in November 2002. | |
CIA 'ENHANCED INTERROGATION' TECHNIQUES Water boarding: prisoner bound to a board with feet raised, and cellophane wrapped round his head. Water is poured onto his face to produce fear of drowningCold cell: prisoner made to stand naked in cold, though not freezing, cell and doused with waterStanding: Prisoners stand for 40 hours or more, shackled to floorBelly slap: Hard slap to stomach with open hand. Designed to be painful but not to cause injury Source: Described to ABC News by un-named CIA agents in 2005 Q&A: Water-boardingWater-boarding scrutinised | CIA 'ENHANCED INTERROGATION' TECHNIQUES Water boarding: prisoner bound to a board with feet raised, and cellophane wrapped round his head. Water is poured onto his face to produce fear of drowningCold cell: prisoner made to stand naked in cold, though not freezing, cell and doused with waterStanding: Prisoners stand for 40 hours or more, shackled to floorBelly slap: Hard slap to stomach with open hand. Designed to be painful but not to cause injury Source: Described to ABC News by un-named CIA agents in 2005 Q&A: Water-boardingWater-boarding scrutinised |
Mr Haynes said he had been unaware of the legal objection from the military and that he had been doing the best he could to prevent further attacks. | Mr Haynes said he had been unaware of the legal objection from the military and that he had been doing the best he could to prevent further attacks. |
"There was a limited amount of time and a high degree of urgency," he said. | |
The committee also released details from previously classified minutes of a meeting in October 2002 in which a top military lawyer at Guantanamo said previously banned techniques such as sleep deprivation were being used secretly. | The committee also released details from previously classified minutes of a meeting in October 2002 in which a top military lawyer at Guantanamo said previously banned techniques such as sleep deprivation were being used secretly. |
"Officially it is not happening," Lt Col Diane Beaver told the meeting, adding that commanders feared the Red Cross might find out. | "Officially it is not happening," Lt Col Diane Beaver told the meeting, adding that commanders feared the Red Cross might find out. |
John Fredman, then chief counsel to the CIA's counter-terrorism centre, argued during the meeting that torture "is basically subject to perception". | John Fredman, then chief counsel to the CIA's counter-terrorism centre, argued during the meeting that torture "is basically subject to perception". |
"If the detainee dies, you're doing it wrong," he said. | "If the detainee dies, you're doing it wrong," he said. |
The chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Sen Carl Levin, said Mr Rumsfeld's endorsement of harsh interrogation techniques had "unleashed a virus which ultimately infected interrogation operations conducted by the US military in Afghanistan and Iraq". | |
"If we use those same techniques offensively against detainees, it says to the world that they have America's stamp of approval." | "If we use those same techniques offensively against detainees, it says to the world that they have America's stamp of approval." |