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US interrogation policy condemned US interrogation debate detailed
(about 22 hours later)
A US Senate committee has criticised military officials for the manner in which they developed interrogation techniques used at Guantanamo Bay. US military lawyers have been detailing the development of harsh interrogation techniques used at Guantanamo Bay and other detention centres.
Pentagon lawyers testified to the Armed Services Committee that methods such as water-boarding were based on training given to soldiers on resisting torture. They told the Senate that methods such as sensory deprivation and simulated drowning were based on training given to soldiers on resisting interrogation.
Chairman Sen Carl Levin said they had then "twisted the law to create the appearance of legality". 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 Armed Services Committee. 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 the detainee dies, you're doing it wrong John FredmanFormer senior CIA lawyer 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.
Sere trainers provided Mr Haynes with a list of techniques, including sensory deprivation, sleep disruption, water-boarding and stress positions. 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 scrutinisedCIA '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.
'Irresponsible and short-sighted' 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".
Discussing the testimony, Armed Services Committee chairman Sen Carl Levin, a Democrat from Michigan, said such comments contradicted the White House's argument that the cause of the abuse scandals at US detention centres such as Abu Ghraib had been merely the result of a "few bad apples" acting on their own.
The guidance that was provided during this period of time, I think will go down in history as some of the most irresponsible and short-sighted legal analysis ever provided to our nation's military and intelligence communities Sen Lindsey Graham
"The truth is that senior officials in the United States government sought information on aggressive techniques, twisted the law to create the appearance of their legality and authorised their use against detainees," he said.
Mr Rumsfeld's endorsement of harsh interrogation techniques, Sen Levin said, 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."
Republican Sen Lindsey Graham said the lawyers' guidance would "go down in history as some of the most irresponsible and short-sighted legal analysis ever provided to our nation's military and intelligence communities".