U.S. government Enhanced interrogation techniques

john yoo, author of torture memos

following september 11 attacks in 2001, several memoranda analyzing legality of various interrogation methods written john yoo office of legal counsel. memos, known today torture memos, advocate enhanced interrogation techniques, while pointing out avoiding geneva conventions reduce possibility of prosecution under war crimes act of 1996 actions taken in war on terror. in addition, new definition of torture issued. actions fall under international definition not fall within new definition advocated u.s.

the bush administration told cia in 2002 interrogators working abroad not violate prohibitions against torture unless have specific intent inflict severe pain or suffering , according secret justice department memo released on july 24, 2008. interrogator s faith , honest belief interrogation not cause such suffering protects interrogator, memo adds. because specific intent element of offense, absence of specific intent negates charge of torture , jay bybee, assistant attorney general, wrote in memo dated august 1, 2002 addressed cia acting general counsel john a. rizzo. 18-page memo heavily redacted, 10 of 18 pages blacked out , few paragraphs legible on others.

another memo released on same day advises waterboard , not violate torture statute. cites number of warnings against torture, including statements president bush , then-new supreme court ruling raises possible concerns future judicial review of [interrogation] program.

a third memo instructs interrogators keep records of sessions in enhanced interrogation techniques used. memo signed then-cia director george tenet , dated january 28, 2003.

the memos made public american civil liberties union, obtained 3 cia-related documents under freedom of information act requests. among 140,000 formerly classified documents department of defense, justice department, , cia provide details on treatment of prisoners in u.s. custody in war on terror gathered aclu.

the less redacted version of august 1, 2002 memo signed assistant attorney general jay bybee (regarding abu zubaydah) , 4 memos 2005 signed principal deputy assistant attorney general steven g. bradbury addressed cia , analysing legality of various specific interrogation methods, including waterboarding, released barack obama s administration on april 16, 2009

following release of cia documents, philip zelikow, former state department lawyer , adviser then-secretary of state condoleezza rice, said in 2005, had written legal memo objecting torture. in argued unlikely federal court agree (that approval of harsh interrogation techniques) ... reasonable interpretation of constitution. claimed bush administration had ordered copies of legal memo collected , destroyed.

subsequent torture memoranda

steven g. bradbury

in may 2005, in response requests cia, bradbury authored several memoranda confirmed several so-called enhanced interrogation techniques did not constitute torture, including waterboarding, walling, stress positions, striking prisoner, exposure extreme temperatures, dousing cold water, , forced sleep deprivation of 180 hours (7½ days), when used in combination. these memoranda found cia s practices lawful if applied in accordance specified conditions, limitations, , safeguards, including set forth in agency’s interrogation procedures. bradbury s memoranda described democrats attempt sidestep anti-torture laws , subvert 2004 public justice department legal opinion characterizing torture abhorrent . these memoranda publicly released obama administration on april 16, 2009.

bradbury authored additional memo dated july 2007, seeking reconcile interrogation techniques new developments, including intervening legislation such military commissions act of 2006 , december 2005 detainee treatment act. in response , other new legislation, 2007 memo provided legal authorization , olc approval more limited set of actions use when interrogating high-value detainees. approval encompassed 6 listed techniques, including temporary food deprivation (no less 1,000 calories/day), sleep deprivation being forced hold standing position many 4 days , , several types of physical striking.

the cumulative effect of bush administration legal memos , exemption prosecution had been create law free zone according former chief prosecutor @ guantánamo, civilian politicians expected military use torture against our , judgment.