ALLEGED USE OF UNAUTHORIZED INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
5959918
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RIPPUB
Document Page Count: 
14
Document Release Date: 
June 13, 2016
Case Number: 
F-2015-02400
Publication Date: 
December 6, 2006
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Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 TA I ) NO: (b)(3) NatSecAct 6 December 2006 DISPOSITION MEMORANDUM SUBJECT: -(S-)- Alleged Use of Unauthorized Interrogation Techniques CASE: (U) 2004-7717-IG (b)(1) ISSUES UNDER INVESTIGATION: (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct 1. (TS// NF) On 18 August 2004, the (b)(3) NatSecActOffice of Inspector General (OIG) received information from the FBI (b)(6) that Agency officers applied an interrogation technique to Libyan (b)(7)(c) Islamic Fighting Group member Abu Hazim Al-Libi in a manner (b)(7)(d) (b)(7)(f) considered inconsistent with Agency procedures. linguist, provided the information to FBI Special Agents who were interviewin on an unrelated matter. The FBI, in turn, referre ormation to OIG for action. (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(d) (b)(7)(f) Tor SECRET/ (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(3) NatSecAct 40FORP44-/-MR? Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(d) (b)(7)(f) Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 T9PECRJ? (b)(1) (b)(1)- . - (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(3) NatSecAct 3. (Si/ND advised OIG that he was the interpreter when interrogator used enhanced interrogation techniques (EITs) on detainee Abu Hazim at lleges that when water dous s. used on Abu Hazim, a cloth covered Abu Hazim's face, an poured cold water directly onto Abu Hazim's face to disrupt ?s breathing. aid when b 1) Abu Hazim turned blue, Physician's Assistant ()( (b)(3) CIAAct removed the cloth so that Abu Hazim could breathe. sal (b)(3) NatSecActwaS the first and only time he witnessed water dousing, and that (b)(6) other CIA personnel were present during this water (b)(7)(c) dousing session. (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(7)(f) (b)(1) (b)(3) (b)(1) (b)(3) (b)(3) 4. (S/ /NF) CIA operational records indicate that Headquarters personnel approved the use of water dousing at the time. However, the water dousing technique did not include the use of a cloth over the face, and pouring water on the face was not allowed. Hence, if water dousing was applied as described, it could be a violation of Title 18 U.S.C. ?2340A Torture. INVESTIGATIYbWFORTS: (b)(3) NatSecAct 5. (T-S-fr (1\11') OIG reviewed relevant documents. Agency policy and guidelines on the use of interrogation NatSecActtechniques were reviewed. The Directorate of Operations (DO) [now known as the National Clandestine Service] provided cable traffic concerning the detention and interrogation at of Abu Hazim, a.k.a. Abu Hazum Al-Libi, Muhammad Dawud, variant Daud, Dawood, Dawud, a.k.a. All 'Abdullah Sharid Al-Din, a.k.a. Abu Muhammad, a.k.a. Abu Hamid. Relevant Lotus Notes concerning Abu Hazim and water dousing were received from CTC/Legal, CTC/Renditions and Detainees Group (RDG), and the CIAAct Office of Medical Services (OMS). OIG reviewed Security Files and NatSecActOfficial Personnel Folders for selected personnel who had contact with Abu Hazim during this period of time. (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct 6. (SI/NP) OIG interviewed several Agency employees and (b)(3) NatSecActontractors, induding the employees who worked with (b)(6) and witnessed the interrogations of Abu Hazim by (b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(f) (b)(1) ?Tee-SEE-RE+) (b)(3) NatSecAct NeFeFcNHMR Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 7P'SEeR:17 (b)(3) NatSecAct 7. -(9- On 10 September 2004, OIG reported this incident as a possible violation of federal criminal law to Chief, Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia. Assistant U.S. Attorney was assigned to the case and has been apprised of the progress of this investigation. POLICY AND GUIDELINES: (b)(3) CIAAct 8. (Sfiti9- DO Handbook 50 explains the Agency's general interrogation policy: It is CIA policy to neither participate directly in nor encourage. interrogation that involves the use of force, mental or physical torture, extremely demeaning indignities, or exposure to inhumane treatment of any kind as an aid to interrogation. (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct 9. (TS/ NF) According to the Inspector General's Special Review, the capture and initial Agency interrogation of the high value detainees (HVDs) presented the? Agency with a significant dilemma.1 The Agency was under pressure ? to prevent additional terrorist attacks. Agency officials believed that a more robust approach was necessary to elicit threat information from senior al-Qa'ida HVDs. With the knowledge that al-Qa'ida personnel had been trained in the use of resistance techniques, another challenge was to identify interrogation techniques that ? Agency personnelowild lawfully use to overcome the resistance. (b)(3) NatSecAct 10. (TS/ ?if) The Office of General Counsel (OGC) consulted extensively with Department of Justice (DoJ) and National Security Council (NSC) legal and policy staffs in determining and documenting the legal parameters and constraints (b)(1) for interrogations. In August 2002, Dors Office of Legal Counsel (b)(3) NatSecAct 1 g:67, /,?NITCounterterrorism Detention and Interrogation Activities (September 2001 - October 2003) (2003-71234G), dated 7 May 2004. (b)(1) ZOP-SEC-RET, (b)(3) NatSecAct NeFeRi+/-fivi* Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 TOP S1CR1 TA I ) (b)(3) NatSecAct (OLC) provided the Agency a legal opinion in which it determined that 10 specific EITs identified for use by CIA with Abu Zubaydah would not violate the torture prohibition.2 The only technique involving water that had been reviewed by OLC was the use of the waterboard.3 (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct 11. -f-T-S-/- NF)-On 28 January 2003, DCI (b)(1) George Tenet signed "Guidelines on Interrogations Conducted (b)(3) NatSecActPursuant to the Presidential Memorandum of Notification of 17 September 2001." The DCI Guidelines were sent to Station t (b)(3) CIAAc in cable on 31 January 2003, and therefore were the guidelines in effect when Abu Hazim was rendered to on nApril 2003. That document approved the use by trained interrogators of the Errs that OLC had opined on in August 2002.4 (b)(1) However, the DCI Guidelines did not limit interrogators to only (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(5) (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct 'NF)?The Errs are the attention grasp, walling, the facial hold (insult hold), the abdominal slap, cramped confinement, wall standing, stress positions, sleep deprivation beyond 72 hours, the use of diapers for prolonged periods, the use of harmless insects, the water board, and such other techniques as may be specifically approved. The use of each EF is subject to specific temporal, physical, and related conditions, including a, competent evaluation of the medical and psychological state of the detainee. A (b)(1) TOP.SECRET/ (b)(3) NatSecAct '1}eFeill471-0.441 Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct 12. -(--T-S-ti NP) The DCI Interrogation Guidelines define "Permissible Interrogation Techniques" and specify, "Unless otherwise approved by Headquarters, CIA officers and other personnel acting on behalf of CIA may use only ? Permissible Interrogation Techniques. Permissible Interrogation Techniques consist of both (a) standard techniques and (b) EITs." Use of EITs require advance approval from Headquarters, as do standard techniques whenever feasible. The field must document the use of (b)(1) both standard techniques and EITs. (b)(3) NatSecAct 13. f-T-S4 NF) The DCI Interrogation Guidelines required prior approval in writing (e.g., by written memorandum or in cable traffic) from the Director CTC, with the concurrence of the Chief, CTC Legal Group, for the use of any EIT(s). In each interrogation session in which an EIT is employed, a contemporaneous record shall be created setting forth the nature and duration of each such technique employed, the identities of those present, and a citation to the required Headquarters approval cable. This information, in the form of a cable, shall be provided to Headquarters. (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct 14. (TSh NF) The DCI Interrogation Guidelines define "standard interrogation techniques" as techniques that do not incorporate significant physical or psychological pressure. These techniques include, but are not limited to, all lawful forms of questioning employed by US law enforcement and military interrogation personnel. Whenever feasible, advance approval is required for the use of standard techniques by an interrogation tea5?3, A CIAAct In all instances, their use shall be documented in cable traffic. (b)(6) (b)(1) (b)(7)(c) (b)(3) NatSecAct Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 ? . ViA I ) NOI IN/ /MR (b)(3) NatSecAct those techniques.5 The DCI Interrogation Guidelines stated that if any other technique is to be introduced, it must be reviewed and approved by Headquarters pursuant to the guidelines below. 5 tr.j./ biNifl According to he DCI Interrogation Guidelines were meant to eliminate freelancing, not to eliminate the introduction of other techniques. Consideration was given for additional techniques as long as they were reviewed and approved by Headquarters. (b)(1) 4913-SEeKET/ (b)(3) NatSecAct \160FORN/ /MR Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(1) ,(b)(3) NatSecAct 16. -(-T-S-/ ) Relevant to this investigation, in particular, is the technique of water dousing. Water dousing involves laying a detainee down on a plastic sheet or towel. Water is poured on the detainee from a container while the interrogator questions the detainee. A session can last from.10 (b)(1) minutes (a single application) to an hour (multiple applications). (b)(3) NatSecAct Water is applied so as to not enter the nose or mouth. Interrogators (b)(1) are not allowed to cover the detainee's face with a cloth.7 (b)(3) NatSecAct 17. (TS/ fif) The January 2003 DCI Interrogation Guidelines do not include water dousin as a standard (b)(1) or enhanced technique. However, cables betwe and (b)(3) NatSecAct Headquarters indicate that water dousing was used at since (b)(1) (b)(1) earl 2003. It appears that water dousing was introduced a(b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(3) CIAAct wher submitted (b)(3) NatSecActable ?n?March 2003, requesting approval to use water (b)(6) dousing as an additional EIT for Khalid Shayk Mohammed (KSM). (b)(7)(c) On the same date, cabl as sent to approving? the use of water dousing with certain conditions. The cable specified that KSM could not be placed naked on bare cement floor, but he had to be placed on a sheet or towel. OMS advised that placing KSM on bare cement could cause his body heat to leach much faster than if he is placed on a towel or sheet. Also, the air temperature must be above 65 degrees if KSM would not be dried immediately. (b)(1) (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(3) NatSecAct- 6 crsi i.er Before EITs are administered, a detainee must receive a detailed psychological assessment and physical exam. Daily physical and psychological (b)(3) CIAAct evaluations are continued throughout the period of EIT use. (b)(3) NatSecAct r (Ts/ r4F). Based upon interviews of interrogators who administered water dousin and witnesses to water dousing, this was the policy in effect when water dousing was used at (b)(1) leven though it is not documented as policy untilrianuary 2004. (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct A ? (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct TOP SECRET! (b)(3) NatSecAct N4gr.424444-71-MR- Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct 15. -(-T-S-/ NF) The DCI Interrogation Guidelines define Errs as "techniques that do incorporate physical or psychological pressure beyond Standard Techniques." Headquarters must approve the use of each specific EU' in advance. EITs may be employed only by trained and certified interrogators for use with a specific detainee and with appropriate medical and psychological monitoring of the process.6 (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) CIAAct Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 rpp SECRI. (b)(1) INO: IN/PAR (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct 87-(-T-S/ NF) Although cable and several other cables requesting and authorizing interrgation techniques refer to water dousing as an EIT, interrogators and CTC/Legal advisors say that water dousing was a standard techni s ue when it was a lied to Abu Hazim in April 2003. It was not un cable dated 21 June 2003, that the application of water ?using was classified as a standard technique in writing.8 In a briefing by Director Tenet and General Counsel Scott Muller to the NSC Principals on 29 July 2003, water dousing was described as a standard technique. The 4 September 2003 draft OMS Guidelines also identified water dousing as a standard technique.9 (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(5) (b)(1) (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct FINDINGS: (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(d) (b)(7)(f) (b)(3) NatSecAct 20 / KID OIG agents interviewed times, during which he described the water dousing of Abu Hazim in a matter that is not procedurally authorized by this (b)(3) CIAAct_ 8 (S//NF) states: "In a correction of the record, Headquarters notes that under a controlled environment and standard procedures for dousing, the application of dousing does (b)(1) not constitute an enhanced measure, but does require detailed and timely notification of its use in (b)(3) CIAAct the interrogation reports, as required for other standard techniques." (b)(3) NatSecAct 9...(571-74iF)- The full title of these guidelines is the "Draft OMS Guidelines on Medical and Psychological Support to Detainee Interrogations." 7 (b)(1) TOP?SEGREP7 (b)(3) NatSecAct NeFeRN-/-11911( Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 TOP_SECRI_(0)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(d) (b)(7)(f) (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct NeFeRN-f-Mitt Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 TOP SE RI TA I) (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(f) 24 ( (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(d) (b)(7)(f) (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct indicate that was the Abu Hazim and Abd al-Karim prior to responsibility. The initial cable sent by requesting ETTs for Abu Hazim, stated water doused. In paragraph 11, concerning water dousing: (b)(1) NF)---The review of cables rimary interrogator for akin that on pril 2003, u Hazim would be requested guidance (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(5) (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(f) (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(5) (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(f) (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(f) 11 dated nApril 2003. authorization to Lunter dousing with Abd al-Karim. (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct- 9 (b)(1) Tor ECRET (b)(3) NatSecAct used similar language when requesting 'Netteted-ttimR- Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(f) (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct 27. (SY--/-14F) Lcab1es indicate that Abu Hazim was (b)(1) interrogated and water doused on A rrpil(3,n April 2003, and April 2003. The cables indicate that )) articipated in and (b)(3) NatSecAc ? twitnessed the three water dousing sessions, as well as the water dousing of al-Karim on April 2003, for a total of four occasions. The same cables indicate that the other participants in the water (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct ousin ' sessions were (b)(6) Th guards provided security and assistance, with the (b)(7)(c) exception of pril 2003, when officers were (b)(7)(f) available and provided security. Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 Top_crrmi_lu)l (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(5) (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct 26. ( ) When Oparted nnkpril 2003, sent a cable to CTC/RDG requesting authorization to replace and use EITs on Abu Hazim. CTC/RDG responded the same clay with the authorization for to use EITs, including water dousing. 28.?(5//NF) dated April 2003, describes the (b)(1) interrogation of Abu Hazim on April 2003. The cable states, in (b)(3) NatSecAcPart, that approved enhanced techniques, facial grab, facial slap, belly slap, and water dousing were used. Abu Hazim was doused with water in a room preheated to 74 degrees. Due to the rapidly (b)(1) warming temperatures well water had reportedly (b)(3) CIAAct risen to a comfortably cool temperature, and as a result, the water (b)(3) NatSecAct dousing did not have the psychological shocking impact it does in colder months. (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(3) CIAAct 12-* dated qOP-sEettEr April 2003, paragraph 5. (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 (b)(1) (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(6) (b)(7)(c) (b)(7)(f) (b)(1` Approved for Release: 2016/06/10 C05959918 Tor sa(b)(i) !HAM ki-11k '1 RN (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(3) NatSecAct 29. -(S7NF)- datednMay 2003, describes the interrogation of Abd al-Karim on April 2003. The cable states that approved enhanced techniques of walling and water dousin were used, and the participants in the intOT,Tj;ation session wer (b)(1) (b)(3) NatSecAct (b)(3) CIAAct (b)(3) NatSecAct 30-