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CIA torture: What is 'enhanced interrogation'? CIA tactics: What is 'enhanced interrogation'?
(about 1 hour later)
Details of harsh interrogation techniques used by the CIA on suspected terrorists are due to be released on Tuesday.Details of harsh interrogation techniques used by the CIA on suspected terrorists are due to be released on Tuesday.
Former US President George W Bush said the CIA had saved lives by using "enhanced interrogation techniques" to acquire information from suspects, but insisted: "This government does not torture people."Former US President George W Bush said the CIA had saved lives by using "enhanced interrogation techniques" to acquire information from suspects, but insisted: "This government does not torture people."
President Barack Obama, however, condemned the CIA interrogation programme as a "dark and painful chapter" in US history and signed an executive order banning the techniques on his second day in office.President Barack Obama, however, condemned the CIA interrogation programme as a "dark and painful chapter" in US history and signed an executive order banning the techniques on his second day in office.
What are 'enhanced interrogation techniques'?What are 'enhanced interrogation techniques'?
Shortly after the attacks on 11 September 2001, the CIA drew up a list of new interrogation techniques that included sleep deprivation, slapping, subjection to cold and simulated drowning, known as "waterboarding".Shortly after the attacks on 11 September 2001, the CIA drew up a list of new interrogation techniques that included sleep deprivation, slapping, subjection to cold and simulated drowning, known as "waterboarding".
Waterboarding involves a prisoner being restrained on his back with their feet at a level higher than their head, or tied upside down. A cloth is placed over the prisoner's face or pushed into their mouth. Sometimes plastic film is used.Waterboarding involves a prisoner being restrained on his back with their feet at a level higher than their head, or tied upside down. A cloth is placed over the prisoner's face or pushed into their mouth. Sometimes plastic film is used.
Water is then poured on to their face and into their nose and mouth. The prisoner gags almost immediately as the water starts entering the lungs.Water is then poured on to their face and into their nose and mouth. The prisoner gags almost immediately as the water starts entering the lungs.
As they start to feel they are drowning, they typically panic and struggle, and their body goes into spasm. Waterboarding can result in brain damage, broken bones and psychological damage.As they start to feel they are drowning, they typically panic and struggle, and their body goes into spasm. Waterboarding can result in brain damage, broken bones and psychological damage.
The controversial methods were used by CIA interrogators at secret locations across the world, known as "black sites".The controversial methods were used by CIA interrogators at secret locations across the world, known as "black sites".
Do the techniques constitute torture?Do the techniques constitute torture?
Torture is defined by the UN Convention against Torture, which the US has signed, as "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person" in order to get information.Torture is defined by the UN Convention against Torture, which the US has signed, as "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person" in order to get information.
The US legal code defines torture as an action "specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering", while the US Constitution bans "cruel and unusual punishment".The US legal code defines torture as an action "specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering", while the US Constitution bans "cruel and unusual punishment".
Human rights groups and several foreign governments say the CIA programme included torture.Human rights groups and several foreign governments say the CIA programme included torture.
But the US government under Mr Bush did not agree and made a distinction between "torture", which it accepted is banned by US and international law, and "enhanced interrogation techniques".But the US government under Mr Bush did not agree and made a distinction between "torture", which it accepted is banned by US and international law, and "enhanced interrogation techniques".
However, President Barack Obama halted the programme when he took office in 2009, and acknowledged that many of the measures amounted to torture. "I believe that waterboarding was torture and, whatever legal rationales were used, it was a mistake," he told reporters.However, President Barack Obama halted the programme when he took office in 2009, and acknowledged that many of the measures amounted to torture. "I believe that waterboarding was torture and, whatever legal rationales were used, it was a mistake," he told reporters.
What was the justification?What was the justification?
In April 2009, President Obama released a series of legal memos written between 2002 and 2005 by lawyers under the Bush administration that sought to justify the use of waterboarding and other methods.In April 2009, President Obama released a series of legal memos written between 2002 and 2005 by lawyers under the Bush administration that sought to justify the use of waterboarding and other methods.
The memos argued that the methods were not "cruel, inhuman or degrading" under international law and highlighted safeguards, such as conducting the interrogations under the supervision of a physician or psychologist with the authority to stop it.The memos argued that the methods were not "cruel, inhuman or degrading" under international law and highlighted safeguards, such as conducting the interrogations under the supervision of a physician or psychologist with the authority to stop it.
One memo said waterboarding would only be used when the CIA had "credible intelligence" that a terrorist attack was imminent and there were "credible indicators" that the subject possessed "actionable intelligence".One memo said waterboarding would only be used when the CIA had "credible intelligence" that a terrorist attack was imminent and there were "credible indicators" that the subject possessed "actionable intelligence".
Former CIA lawyer John Rizzo authorised the programme. Speaking to BBC Newsnight earlier this year, Mr Rizzo said capturing and interrogating terrorists was better than killing people through drone strikes.Former CIA lawyer John Rizzo authorised the programme. Speaking to BBC Newsnight earlier this year, Mr Rizzo said capturing and interrogating terrorists was better than killing people through drone strikes.
Were the techniques effective?Were the techniques effective?
The CIA used "enhanced interrogation techniques" for several years but it is unclear how many detainees were subjected to the methods. Only three people are believed to have been subjected to waterboarding.The CIA used "enhanced interrogation techniques" for several years but it is unclear how many detainees were subjected to the methods. Only three people are believed to have been subjected to waterboarding.
According to ex-CIA officer John Kiriakou, al-Qaeda suspect Abu Zubaydah "broke" within half a minute of being waterboarded. Abu Zubaydah said later he had made things up to satisfy his interrogators.According to ex-CIA officer John Kiriakou, al-Qaeda suspect Abu Zubaydah "broke" within half a minute of being waterboarded. Abu Zubaydah said later he had made things up to satisfy his interrogators.
However, a justice department memo reported by the New York Times in 2009 revealed that CIA interrogators had used the waterboarding technique 83 times on Abu Zubaydah and 183 times on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who planned the 9/11 attacks.However, a justice department memo reported by the New York Times in 2009 revealed that CIA interrogators had used the waterboarding technique 83 times on Abu Zubaydah and 183 times on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who planned the 9/11 attacks.
The third person known to have been waterboarded is Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the alleged mastermind of the 2000 attack on the USS Cole.The third person known to have been waterboarded is Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the alleged mastermind of the 2000 attack on the USS Cole.
The practices were brutal and produced little intelligence of value, a leaked White House memo said in July 2014.The practices were brutal and produced little intelligence of value, a leaked White House memo said in July 2014.
The arguments over waterboarding reflect all arguments about similar methods. Do they produce information or lies? Can the information be obtained by other means? And are they counter-productive?The arguments over waterboarding reflect all arguments about similar methods. Do they produce information or lies? Can the information be obtained by other means? And are they counter-productive?
Will anyone be prosecuted for torture?Will anyone be prosecuted for torture?
President Obama has stated: "Those who carried out their duties relying in good faith upon legal advice from the department of justice... will not be subject to prosecution."President Obama has stated: "Those who carried out their duties relying in good faith upon legal advice from the department of justice... will not be subject to prosecution."
Critics of the programme have called for George W Bush himself to be be investigated, alongside former Vice-President Dick Cheney, former Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and ex-CIA Director George Tenet.Critics of the programme have called for George W Bush himself to be be investigated, alongside former Vice-President Dick Cheney, former Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and ex-CIA Director George Tenet.
There have been previous investigations but they have not resulted in any prosecutions.There have been previous investigations but they have not resulted in any prosecutions.
In 2012, US Attorney General Eric Holder looked into CIA interrogation practices overseas but said the evidence was not "sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt".In 2012, US Attorney General Eric Holder looked into CIA interrogation practices overseas but said the evidence was not "sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt".
Speaking in August about the release of the Senate report, President Obama said: "We did some things that were wrong. We tortured some folks. We crossed the line and that needs to be understood."Speaking in August about the release of the Senate report, President Obama said: "We did some things that were wrong. We tortured some folks. We crossed the line and that needs to be understood."