Details of CIA interrogation techniques
WASHINGTON: The following are details and examples about "enhanced" interrogation techniques used by the Bush administration on terrorism suspects held overseas after the Sept 11 attacks on the United States in 2001, according to information newly released from a 2004 CIA report.
The techniques included waterboarding which induces the sensation of drowning, sleep and food deprivation, slamming a detainee against a false wall to create a loud sound and shock the prisoner and confinement into a small cell or box for hours at a time.
In some cases, suspects were threatened. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks, was told that if anything else happens in the United States, "We're going to kill your children".
Guns and other implements were sometimes used. Abdal-Rahim Al-Nashiri, a suspect in the 2000 USS Cole bombing, was confronted by a debriefer who racked handgun once or twice close to his head without telling him it was unloaded. Another time, when he was hooded and naked, a debriefer entered his cell and revved a power drill in an attempt to frighten him. An interrogator also hinted that officials would sexually assault Al-Nashiri's mother in front of him. The interrogator pretended to be a member of a Middle East intelligence agency believed to use such a tactic. "We could get your mother in here," the interrogator said.
One mock execution was used, also on Al-Nashiri, when guards paraded another man apparently shot dead outside his cell. The report said that technique "was transparently a ruse and no benefit was derived from it."
Mohammed was subjected to waterboarding more than 180times, in a manner that was inconsistent with the method approved by government officials. Another terrorism suspect, Abu Zubaydah, was subjected to waterboarding at least 83 times.
Reuters -AP
(China Daily 08/27/2009 page11)
