SpidermanTuba
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The Methods List for Interrogation - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com
The longest period of time for which any detainee has been deprived of sleep by the CIA is 180 hours.
Wow - that's only a week and a half day.
The longest period of time for which any detainee has been deprived of sleep by the CIA is 180 hours.
Wow - that's only a week and a half day.
I. Dietary Manipulation: This technique involves the substitution of commercial liquid meal replacements for normal food, presenting detainees with a bland, unappetizing, but nutritionally complete diet. You have informed us that the C~ believes dietary manipulation makes other techniques, such as sleep deprivation, more effective. Detainees on dietary manipulation are permitted as much water as they want.
In general, minimum daily fluid and nutritional requirements are estimated using the following formula:
Fluid requirement: 35 ml/kg/day. This may be increased depending on ambient temperature, body temperature, and level of activity. Medical officers must monitor fluid intake, and although detainees are allowed as much water as they want, monitoring of urine output may be necessary in the unlikely event that the officers suspect that the detainee is becoming dehydrated.
Calorie requirement: The C.I.A. generally follows as a guideline a calorie requirement
Of 900 k/cal/day + 10 kcal/kg/day. This quantity is multiplied by 1.2 for a sedentary activity level or 1.4 for a moderate activity level. Regardless of this formula, the recommended minimum calorie intake is 1500 kcal/day, and in no event is the detainee allowed to receive less than 1000 kcal/day. Calories are provided using commercial liquid diets (such as Ensure Plus), which also supply other essential nutrients and make for nutritionally complete meals.
Medical officers are required to ensure adequate fluid and nutritional intake, and frequent medical monitoring takes place while any detainee is undergoing dietary manipulation. All detainees are weighed weekly, and in the.unlikely event that a detainee were to lose more than 10 percent of his body weight, the restricted diet would be discontinued.
2. Nudity: This technique is used to cause psychological discomfort, particularly if a detainee, for cultural or other reasons, is especially modest. When the technique is employed, clothing can be provided as an instant reward for cooperation. During and between interrogation sessions, a detainee may be kept nude, provided that ambient temperatures and the health of the detainee permit. For this technique to be employed, ambient temperature must be at least 68 degrees.
No sexual abuse or threats of sexual abuse are permitted. Although each detention cell has full time closed-circuit video monitoring, the detainee is not intentionally exposed to other detainees or unduly exposed to the detention facility staff. We understand that interrogators are trained to avoid sexual innuendo or any acts of implicit sexual degradation.
Nevertheless, interrogators can exploit the detainees fear of being seen naked. In addition, female officers involved in the interrogation process may see the detainees naked; and for purposes of our analysis, we will assume that detainees subjected to nudity as an interrogation technique are aware that they may be seen naked by females.
3. Attention grasp: This technique consists of grasping the individual with both hands, one hand on each side of the collar opening, in a controlled and quick motion. In the same
motion as the grasp, the individual is drawn toward the jnterrogator.
4. Walling: This technique involves the use of a flexible, false wall. The individual is placed with his heels touching the flexible wall. The interrogator pulls the individual forward and then quickly and firmly pushes the individual into the wall. It is the individuals shoulder blades that hit the wall. During this motion, the head and neck are supported with a rolled hood or towel that provides a C-collar effect to help prevent whiplash. To reduce further the risk of injury, the individual is allowed to rebound from the flexible wall.
You have informed us that the false wall is also constructed to create a loud noise when the individual hits it in order to increase the shock or surprise of the technique. We understand that walling may be used when the detainee is uncooperative or unresponsive to questions from interrogators.
Depending on the extent of the detainees lack of cooperation, he may be walled one time during an interrogation session (one impact with the wall) or many times (perhaps 20 or 30 times) consecutively. We understand that this technique is not designed to, and does not cause severe pain, even when used repeatedly as you have described: Rather, it is designed to wear down the detainee and to shock or surprise the detainee and alter his expectations about the treatment he believes he will receive. In particular, we specifically understand that·the repetitive use of the walling technique is intended to contribute to the shock and drama of the experience, to dispel a detainees expectations that interrogators will not use increasing levels of force, and to wear down his resistance. It is not intended to and based on experience you have informed us that it does not inflict any injury or cause severe pain.
Medical and psychological personnel are physically present or otherwise observing whenever this technique is applied (as they are with any interrogation technique involving physical contact with the detainee).
5. Facial hold: This technique is used to hold the head immobile during interrogation. One open palm is placed on either side of the individuals face. The fingertips are kept well away from the individuals eyes.
6. Facial slap or insult slap: With this technique, the interrogator slaps the individuals face with fingers sIlghtly spread. The hand makes contact with the area directly between the tip of the individuals chin and the bottom of the corresponding earlobe. The interrogator thus invades the individuals personal space. We understand that the goal of the facial slap is not to inflict physical pain that is severe or lasting.
Instead, the purpose of the facial slap is to induce shock, surprise, or humiliation. Medical and psychological personnel are physically present or otherwise observing whenever this technique is applied.
7. Abdominal slap: In this technique, the interrogator strikes the abdomen of the detainee with the back of his open hand. The interrogator must have no rings or other jewelry on his hand. The interrogator is positioned directly in front of the detainee; generally no more than 18 inches from the detainee. With his fingers held tightly together and fully extended, and with his palm toward the interrogators own body, using his elbow as a fixed pivot point, the interrogator slaps the detainee in the detainees abdomen.
The interrogator may not use a fist, and the slap must be delivered above the navel and below the sternum. This technique is used to condition a detainee to pay attention to the interrogators questions and to dislodge expectations that the detainee wilt not be touched. It is not intended to and based on experience you have informed us that it does not inflict any injury or cause any significant pain.
Medical and psychological personnel are physically present or otherwise observing whenever this technique is applied.
8. Cramped confinement: This technique involves placing the individual in a confined space, the dimensions of which restrict the individuals movement. The confined space is usually dark.
The duration of confinement varies based upon the size of the container. For the larger confined space, the individual can stand up or sit down; the smaller space is large enough for the subject to sit down.
Confinement in the larger space may last no more than 8 hours at a time for no more than 18 hours a day; for the smaller space, confinement may last no more than two hours. Limits on the duration of cramped confinement are based on considerations of the detainees size and weight, how he responds to the technique, and continuing consultation between the interrogators and OMS officers.
9. Wall standing: This technique is used only to induce temporary muscle fatigue. The individual stands about four to five feet from a wall, with his feet spread approximately to shoulder width. His arms are stretched out in front of him, with his fingers resting on the wall and supporting his body weight. The individual is not permitted to move or reposition his hands or feet.
10. Stress positions. There are three stress position that may be used. You have
informed us that these positions are not designed to produce the pain associated with contortions or twisting of the body. Rather, like wall standing, they are designed to produce the physical discomfort associated with temporary muscle fatigue.
The three stress positions are (1) sitting on the floor with legs extended straight out in front and arms raised above the head, (2) kneeling on the floor while leaning back at a 45-degree angle, and (3) leaning against a wall generally about three feet away from the detainees feet, with only the detainees head touching the wall, while his wrists are handcuffed in front of him or behind his back, and while an interrogator stands next to him to prevent injury if he loses his balance. As with wall standing, we understand that these positions are used only to induce temporary muscle fatigue.
11. Water Dousing: Cold water is poured on the detainee either from a container or from a hose without a nozzle: This technique is intended to weaken the detainees resistance and persuade him to cooperate with interrogators. The water poured on the detainee must be potable, and the interrogators must ensure that water does not enter the detainees nose, mouth, or eyes.
A medical officer must observe and monitor the detainee throughout application of this technique, including for signs of hypothermia. Ambient temperatures must rain above 64-degrees.
If the detainee is lying on the floor, his head is to remain vertical, and a poncho, mat, or other material must be placed between him and the floor to minimize the loss of body heat. At the conclusion of the water dousing session, the, detainee must be moved to a heated room if necessary to permit his body temperature to return to normal in a safe manner.
To ensure an adequate margin of safety, the maximum period of time that a detainee may be permitted to remain wet has been set at two-thirds the time at which, based on extensive medical literature and experience, hypothermia could be expected to develop in healthy individuals who are submerged in water, of the same temperature.
For example, in employing this technique: 1. For water temperature of 41 degrees, total duration of exposure may not exceed 20 minutes without drying and rewarming. 2. For water temperature of 50 degrees, total duration of exposure may not exceed 40 minutes without drying and rewarming. 3. For water temperature of 59 degrees, total duration of exposure may not exceed 60 minutes without drying and rewarming.
The minimum permissible temperature of the water used in water dousing is 41-degrees, although you have informed us that in practice the water temperature is generally not below 50 degrees, since tap water rather than refrigerated water is generally used. We understand that a version or water dousing routinely used in SERE training is much more extreme in that it involves complete immersion of the individual in cold water (where water temperatures may be below 40°F) and is usually performed outdoors where ambient air temperatures may be as low as 10 degrees.
Thus, the SERE training version involves a far greater impact on body temperature; SERE training also involves a situation where the water may enter the trainees nose and mouth.
You have also described a variation of water dousing involving much smaller quantities of water; this variation is known as flicking, Flicking of water is achieved by the interrogator wetting his fingers and then flicking them at the detainee, propelling droplets at the detainee. Flicking of water is done in an effort to create a distracting effect, to startle, to irritate, to instill humiliation, or to cause temporary insult.
The water used in the flicking variation of water dousing also must be potable and within the water and ambient air, temperature ranges for water dousing described above. Although water may be flicked into the detainees face with this variation, the flicking of water at all times is done in such a manner as to avoid the inhalation or ingestion of water by the detainee.
12. Sleep Deprivation (More than 48 hours): This technique subjects a detainee to an extended period without sleep. You have informed us that the primary purpose of this technique is to weaken the subject and wear down his resistance.
The primary method of sleep deprivation involves the use of shackling to keep the detainee awake. In this method, the detainee is standing and is handcuffed, and the handcuffs are attached by a length of chain to the ceiling.
The detainees hands are shackled in front of his body, so that the detainee has, approximately a two- to three-foot diameter of movement. The detainees feet are shackled to a bolt in the floor. Due care is taken to ensure that the shackles are neither too loose nor too tight for physical safety.
We understand from discussions with OMS that the shackling does not result in any significant physical pain for the subject. The detainees hands are generally between the level of his heart and his chin. In some cases, the detainees hands may be raised above the level of his head, but only for a period of up to two hours. All of the detainees weight is borne by his legs and feet during standing sleep deprivation.
You have informed us that the detainee is not allowed, to hang from or support his body weight with the shackles. Rather, we understand that the shackles are only used as a passive means to keep the detainee standing and thus to prevent him from falling asleep; should the detainee begin to fall asleep, he will lose his balance and awaken, either because of the sensation of losing his balance or because of the restraining tension of the shackles.
The use of this passive means for keeping the detainee awake avoids the need for using means that would require interaction with the detainee and might pose a danger of physical harm.
We understand from you that no detainee subjected to this technique by the CIA has suffered any harm or injury, either by falling down and forcing the handcuffs to bear his weight or in any other way. You have assured us that detainees are continuously monitored by closed-circuit television, so that if a detainee were unable to stand, he would immediately be removed from the standing position and would not be permitted to dangle by his wrists.
We understand that standing sleep deprivation may cause edema, or swelling, in the lower extremities because it forces detainees to stand for an extended period of time. OMS has advised us that this condition is not painful, and that the condition disappears quickly once the detainee is permitted to lie down.
Medical personnel carefully monitor any detainee being subjected to standing sleep deprivation for indications of edema or other physical or psychological conditions, The OMS
Guidelines include extensive discussion on medical monitoring of detainees being subjected to shackling and sleep deprivation, and they include specific instructions for medical personnel to require alternative, non-standing positions or to take other actions, including ordering the cessation ot sieep deprivation, in order to relieve or avoid serious edema or other significant medical conditions.
In lieu of standing sleep deprivation, a detainee may instead be seated on and shackled to a-small-stool. The stool supports the detainees weight, but is too small to permit the subject to balance himself sufficiently to be able to go to sleep. On rare occasions, a detainee may also be restrained in a horizontal position when necessary to enable recovery from edema without interrupting the course of sleep deprivation.
We understand that these alternative restraints, although uncomfortable, are not significantly painful, according to the experience and professional judgment of OMS and other personnel. We understand that a detainee undergoing sleep deprivation is generally fed by hand by C.I.A. personnel so that he need not be unshackled; however, if progress is made during interrogation, the interrogators may unshackle the detainee and let him feed himself as a positive incentive. (Oct. 12 letter.)
If the detainee is clothed, he wears an adult diaper under his pants. Detainees subject to sleep deprivation who are also subject to nudity as a separate interrogation technique will at times be nude and wearing a diaper. If the detainee is wearing a diaper, it is checked regularly and changed as necessary. The use of the diaper is for sanitary and health purposes of the detainee; it is not used for the purpose of humiliating the detainee, and it is not considered to be an interrogation technique.
The detainees skin condition is monitored, and diapers are changed as needed so that the detainee does not remain in a soiled diaper. You have informed us that to date no detainee has experienced any skin problems resulting from use of diapers.
The maximum alIowable duration for sleep deprivation authorized by·the C.I.A. is 180 hours, after which the detainee must be permitted to sleep without interruption for at least eight hours. You have informed us that to date, more than a dozen detainees have been subjected to sleep deprivation of more than 48 hours, and three detainees have been subjected to sleep deprivation of more than 96 hours; the longest period of time for which any detainee has been deprived of sleep by the CIA is 180 hours.
Under the C.I.A.s guidelines, sleep deprivation could be resumed after a period of eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, but only if OMS personnel specifically determined that there are no medical or psychological contraindications based on the detainees condition at that time. As discussed below, however, in this memorandum we will evaluate only one application of up to 180 hours of sleep deprivation.
You have informed us that detainees are closely monitored at all times (either directly or by closed-circuit video camera) while being subjected to sleep deprivation, and that these personnel will intervene and the technique will be discontinued if there are medical or psychological contraindications. Furthermore, as with all interrogation techniques used by the C.I.A., sleep deprivation will not be used on any detainee if the prior medical and psychological assessment reveals any contraindications.
13. The Waterboard: In this technique, the detainee is lying on a gurney that is inclined at an angle of 10 to 15 degrees to the horizontal, with the detainee on his back and his head toward the lower end of the gurney. A cloth is placed over the detainees face, and cold water is poured on the cloth from a height of approximately 6 to 18 inches. The wet cloth creates a barrier through which it is difficult or in some cases not possible to breathe.
A single application of water may not last for more than 40 seconds, with the duration of an application measured from the moment when water of whatever quantity is first poured onto the cloth until the moment the cloth is removed from the subjects face. (See Aug. 19 letter.)
When the time limit is reached, the pouring of water is immediately discontinued and the cloth is removed. We understand that if the detainee makes an effort to defeat the technique (e.g., by twisting his head to the side and breathing out of the comer of his mouth), the interrogator may cup his hands around the detainees nose and mouth to dam the runoff, in which case it would not be possible for the detainee to breathe during the application of the water. In addition, you have informed us that the technique may be applied in a manner to defeat efforts by the detainee to hold his breath by, for example, beginning an application of water as the detainee is exhaling.
Either in the normal application, or where countermeasures are used, we understand that water may enter and may accumulate in the detainees mouth and nasal cavity, preventing him from breathing. In addition, you have indicated that the detainee as a countermeasure may swallow water, possibly in significant quantities. For that reason; based on advice of medical personnel, the C.I.A. requires that saline solution be used instead of plain water to reduce the possibility of hyponatremia (i.e., reduced concentration of sodium in the blood) if the detainee drinks the water.
We understand that the effect of the waterboard is to induce a sensation of drowning. This sensation is based on a deeply rooted physiological response. Thus, the detainee experiences this sensation even if he is aware that he is not actually drowning. We are informed that based on extensive experience, the process is not physically painful, but that it usually does cause fear and panic.
The waterboard has been used many thousands of times in SERE training provided to American military personnel, though in that context it is usually limited to one or two applications of no more than 40 seconds each.
During the use of the waterboard, a physician and a psychologist are present at all times. The detainee is monitored to ensure that he does not develop respiratory distress. If the detainee is not breathing freely after the cloth is removed from his face, he is immediately moved to a vertical position in order to clear the water from his mouth, nose, and nasopharynx, The gurney used for administering this technique is specially designed so that this can be accomplished very quickly if necessary.
Your medical personnel have explained that the use of the waterboard does pose a small risk of certain potentially significant medical problems and that certain measures are taken to avoid or address such problems. First, a detainee might vomit and then aspirate the emesis. To reduce this risk, any detainee on whom this technique will be used is first placed on a liquid diet. Second, the detainee might aspirate some of the water, and the resulting water in the lungs might cause pneumonia.
To mitigate this risk, a potable saline solution is used in the procedure. Third, it is conceivable (although, we understand from OMS, highly unlikely) that a detainee could suffer spasms of the larynx that would prevent him from breathing even when the application of water is stopped and the detainee is returned to an upright position.
In the event of such spasms, a qualified physician would immediately intervene to address the problem, and, if necessary, the intervening physician would perform a tracheotomy. Although the risk of such spasm is considered remote, we are informed that the necessary emergency medical equipment is always present, although not visible to the detainee during any appIication of the waterboard.
We understand that in many years of use on thousands of participants in SERE training, the waterboard technique (although used in a substantially more Iimited way) has not resulted in any cases of serious physical pain or prolonged, rental harm. In addition, we understand that the waterboard has been used by the C.I.A. on three high level al Qaeda detainees, two of whom were subjected to the technique numerous times, and according to OMS, none of these three individuals has shown any evidence of physical pain or suffering or mental harm in the more than 25 months since the technique was used on them.
As noted, we understand that OMS has been involved in imposing strict limits on the use of the waterboard limits that when combined with careful monitoring in their professional judgment should prevent physical pain or suffering or mental harm to a detainee. In addition, we understand that any detainee is closely monitored by medical and psychological personnel whenever the waterboard is applied, and that there are additional reporting requirements beyond the normal reporting requirements in place when other interrogation techniques are used.