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| CIA man defends 'water-boarding' | CIA man defends 'water-boarding' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A retired CIA agent has said a top al-Qaeda suspect was interrogated using a simulated drowning technique but that he believes it was justified. | A retired CIA agent has said a top al-Qaeda suspect was interrogated using a simulated drowning technique but that he believes it was justified. |
| John Kiriakou told US broadcaster ABC that "water-boarding" was used when his CIA team questioned suspected al-Qaeda chief recruiter Abu Zubaydah. | John Kiriakou told US broadcaster ABC that "water-boarding" was used when his CIA team questioned suspected al-Qaeda chief recruiter Abu Zubaydah. |
| He said it might be torture but that it "broke" the detainee in seconds. | He said it might be torture but that it "broke" the detainee in seconds. |
| US authorities are investigating the CIA's destruction of tapes of al-Qaeda suspects being interrogated. | US authorities are investigating the CIA's destruction of tapes of al-Qaeda suspects being interrogated. |
| Mr Kiriakou told ABC the day after water-boarding was used on Abu Zubaydah, the detainee told his interrogator Allah had visited him in his cell during the night and told him to cooperate. | |
| 'Principles compromised' | |
| "From that day on, he answered every question," the retired agent said. | "From that day on, he answered every question," the retired agent said. |
| '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 and is said to produce a fear of drowningCold cell: prisoner made to stand naked in a cold, though not freezing, cell and doused with waterStanding: Prisoners stand for 40 hours and more, shackled to the floorBelly slap: a hard slap to the stomach with an open hand. This is designed to be painful but not to cause injury Source: Described to ABC News by un-named CIA agents in 2005 CIA boss faces credibility test | |
| "The threat information he provided disrupted a number of attacks, maybe dozens of attacks." | "The threat information he provided disrupted a number of attacks, maybe dozens of attacks." |
| But he added: | But he added: |
| "Like a lot of Americans, I'm involved in this internal, intellectual battle with myself weighing the idea that water-boarding may be torture versus the quality of information that we often get after using the water-boarding technique. And I struggle with it." | "Like a lot of Americans, I'm involved in this internal, intellectual battle with myself weighing the idea that water-boarding may be torture versus the quality of information that we often get after using the water-boarding technique. And I struggle with it." |
| He said he felt water-boarding's use had "compromised [American] principles in the short term" and was unsure the technique would be justified any longer. | |
| "At the time, I felt water-boarding was something we needed to do," he told ABC News. | |
| "And as time has passed, and as September 11th has, you know, has moved farther and farther back into history, I think I've changed my mind." | |
| The interview is said by ABC News to be first public comment by any CIA officer involved in handling top al-Qaeda suspects. | |
| Cover-up fears | |
| It comes as an official inquiry is launched into the CIA's destruction in 2005 of two videotapes showing interrogations of al-Qaeda suspects. | |
| The CIA is being investigated over the deletion of interrogation tapes | |
| One of the detainees in the deleted footage, filmed in 2002, is understood to be Abu Zubaydah, the man referred to by Mr Kiriakou. | |
| The Palestinian was captured in Pakistan in 2002 and sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. | |
| The CIA says it destroyed the tapes to protect the identity of its agents. | |
| But Democrats have accused the agency of a cover-up to hide evidence of possible detainee torture. | |
| The administration of US President George W Bush has always maintained it does not allow the use of torture. |