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MEMO 27
UNCLASSIFIED
SECRET/NOFORN
THE SECRETARY OF
DEFENSE
1000 DEFENSE PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20301-1000
APR 16 2003
MEMORANDUM FOR THE
COMMANDER, US SOUTHERN COMMAND
SUBJECT:
Counter-Resistance Techniques in the War on Terrorism (S)
(S/NF)
(U) I have considered the report of the Working Group that I directed be
established on January 15, 2003.
(S/NF)
(U) I approve the use of specified counter-resistance techniques,
subject to the following:
(U) a. The
techniques I authorize are those lettered A-X, set out at Tab A.
(U) b. These
techniques must be used with all the safeguards described at Tab B.
(S)
(U) c. Use of these techniques is limited to interrogations of unlawful
combatants held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
(S/)
(U) d. Prior to the use of these techniques, the Chairman of the Working
Group on Detainee Interrogations in the Global War on Terrorism must
brief you and your staff.
(S/NF)
(U) I reiterate that US Armed Forces shall continue to treat detainees
humanely and, to the extent appropriate and consistent with military
necessity, in a manner consistent with the principles of the Geneva
Conventions. In addition, if you intend to use techniques B, I, Q, or X,
you must specifically determine that military necessity requires its use
and notify me in advance.
(S/NF)
(U) If, in your view, you require additional interrogation techniques
for a particular detainee, you should provide me, via the Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a written request describing the proposed
technique, recommended safeguards, and the rationale for applying it
with an identified detainee.
(S/NF)
(U) Nothing in this memorandum in any way restricts your existing
authority to maintain good order and discipline among detainees.
[Signed Donald
Rumsfeld]
Attachments:
As stated
Declassified Under
Authority of Executive Order 12958
By Executive Secretary, Office of the Secretary of Defense
William P. Marriott, CAPT, USN
June 18, 2004
Classified By:
Secretary of Defense
Reason: 1.5(a)
Declassify On: 2 April 2013
UNCLASSIFIED
SECRET/NOFORN
NOT RELEASABLE TO
FOREIGN NATIONALS
TAB A
INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES
(S/NF) (U) The use of techniques A- X is subject to the
general safeguards as provided below as well as specific implementation
guidelines to be provided by the appropriate authority. Specific
implementation guidance with respect to techniques A - Q is provided in
Army Field Manual 34-52. Further implementation guidance with respect to
techniques R - X will need to be developed by the appropriate authority.
(S/NF)
(U) Of the techniques set forth below, the policy aspects of certain
techniques should be considered to the extent those policy aspects
reflect the views of other major U.S. partner nations. Where applicable,
the description of the technique is annotated to include a summary of
the policy issues that should be considered before application of the
technique.
A. (S/NF)
(U) Direct: Asking straightforward questions.
B. (S/NF)
(U) Incentive/Removal of Incentive: Providing a reward or removing a
privilege, above and beyond those that are required by the Geneva
Convention, from detainees. [Caution: Other nations that believe that
detainees are entitled to POW protections may consider that provision
and retention of religious items (e.g., the Koran) are protected under
international law (see, Geneva III, Article 34). Although the provisions
of the Geneva Convention are not applicable to the interrogation of
unlawful combatants, consideration should be given to these views prior
to application of the technique.]
C. (S/NF)
(U) Emotional Love: Playing on the love a detainee has for an individual
or group.
D. (S/NF)
(U) Emotional Hate: Playing on the hatred a detainee has for an
individual or group.
E. (S/NF)
(U) Fear Up Harsh: Significantly increasing the fear level in a
detainee.
F. (S/NF)
(U) Fear Up Mild: Moderately increasing the fear level in a detainee.
G. (S/NF)
(U) Reduced Fear: Reducing the fear level in a detainee.
H. (S/NF)
(U) Pride and Ego Up: Boosting the ego of a detainee.
Classified By:
Secretary of Defense
Reason:1.5(a)
Declassify On: 2 April 2013
NOT RELEASABLE TO
FOREIGN NATIONALS
I. (S/NF)
(U) Pride and Ego Down: Attacking or insulting the ego of a detainee,
not beyond the limits that would apply to a POW. [Caution: Article 17 of
Geneva III provides, "Prisoners of war who refuse to answer may not be
threatened, insulted, or exposed to any unpleasant or disadvantageous
treatment of any kind." Other nations that believe that detainees are
entitled to POW protections may consider this technique inconsistent
with the provisions of Geneva. Although the provisions of Geneva are not
applicable to the interrogation of unlawful combatants, consideration
should be given to these views prior to application of the technique.]
J. (S/NF)
(U) Futility: Invoking the feeling of futility of a detainee.
K. (S/NF)
(U)) We Know All: Convincing the detainee that the interrogator knows
the answer to questions he asks the detainee.
L. (S/NF)
(U) Establish Your Identity: Convincing the detainee that the
interrogator has mistaken the detainee for someone else.
M. (S/NF)
(U) Repetition Approach: Continuously repeating the same question to the
detainee within interrogation periods of normal duration.
N. (S/NF)
(U) File and Dossier: Convincing detainee that the interrogator has a
damning and inaccurate file, which must be fixed.
O. (S/NF)
(U) Mutt and Jeff: A team consisting of a friendly and harsh
interrogator. The harsh interrogator might employ the Pride and Ego Down
technique. [Caution: Other nations that believe that POW protections
apply to detainees may view this technique as inconsistent with Geneva
III, Article 13 which provides that paws must be protected against acts
of intimidation. Although the provisions of Geneva are not applicable to
the interrogation of unlawful combatants, consideration should be given
to these views prior to application of the technique.]
P. (S/NF)
(U) Rapid Fire: Questioning in rapid succession without allowing
detainee to answer.
Q. (S/NF)
(U) Silence: Staring at the detainee to encourage discomfort.
R. (S/NF)
(U) Change of Scenery Up: Removing the detainee from the standard
interrogation setting (generally to a location more pleasant, but no
worse).
S. (S/NF)
(U) Change of Scenery Down: Removing the detainee from the standard
interrogation setting and placing him in a setting that may be less
comfortable; would not constitute a substantial change in environmental
quality.
T. (S/NF)
(U) Dietary Manipulation: Changing the diet of a detainee; no intended
deprivation of food or water; no adverse medical or cultural effect and
without intent to deprive subject of food or water, e.g., hot rations to
MREs.
U. (S/NF)
(U) Environmental Manipulation: Altering the environment to create
moderate discomfort (e.g., adjusting temperature or introducing an
unpleasant smell). Conditions would not be such that they would injure
the detainee. Detainee would be accompanied by interrogator at all
times. [Caution: Based on court cases in other countries, some nations
may view application of this technique in certain circumstances to be
inhumane. Consideration of these views should be given prior to use of
this technique.]
V. (S/NF)
(U) Sleep Adjustment: Adjusting the sleeping times of the detainee
(e.g., reversing sleep cycles from night to day.) This technique is NOT
sleep deprivation.
W. (S/NF)
(U) False Flag: Convincing the detainee that individuals from a country
other than the United States are interrogating him.
X. (S/NF)
(U) Isolation: Isolating the detainee from other detainees while still
complying with basic standards of treatment. [Caution: The use of
isolation as an interrogation technique requires detailed implementation
instructions, including specific guidelines regarding the length of
isolation, medical and psychological review, and approval for extensions
of the length of isolation by the appropriate level in the chain of
command. This technique is not known to have been generally used for
interrogation purposes for longer than 30 days. Those nations that
believe detainees are subject to POW protections may view use of this
technique as inconsistent with the requirements of Geneva III, Article
13 which provides that POWs must be protected against acts of
intimidation; Article 14 which provides that POWs are entitled to
respect for their person; Article 34 which prohibits coercion and
Article 126 which ensures access and basic standards of treatment.
Although the provisions of Geneva are not applicable to the
interrogation of unlawful combatants, consideration should be given to
these views prior to application of the technique.]
TAB B
GENERAL
SAFEGUARDS
(S/NF)
(U) Application of these interrogation techniques is subject to the
following general safeguards: (i) limited to use only at strategic
interrogation facilities; (ii) there is a good basis to believe that the
detainee possesses critical intelligence; (iii) the detainee is
medically and operationally evaluated as suitable (considering all
techniques to be used in combination); (iv) interrogators are
specifically trained for the technique(s); (v) a specific interrogation
plan (including reasonable safeguards, limits on duration, intervals
between applications, termination criteria and the presence or
availability of qualified medical personnel) has been developed; (vi)
there is appropriate supervision; and, (vii) there is appropriate
specified senior approval for use with any specific detainee (after
considering the foregoing and receiving legal advice).
(U) The purpose of
all interviews and interrogations is to get the most information from a
detainee with the least intrusive method, always applied in a humane and
lawful manner with sufficient oversight by trained investigators or
interrogators. Operating Instructions must be developed based on command
policies to insure uniform, careful, and safe application of any
interrogations of detainees.
(S/NF)
(U) Interrogations must always be planned, deliberate actions that take
into account numerous, often interlocking factors such as a detainee's
current and past performance in both detention and interrogation, a
detainee's emotional and physical strengths and weaknesses, an
assessment of possible approaches that may work on a certain detainee in
an effort to gain the trust of the detainee, strengths and weaknesses of
interrogators, and augmentation by other personnel for a certain
detainee based on other factors.
(U) Interrogation
approaches are designed to manipulate the detainee's emotions and
weaknesses to gain his willing cooperation. Interrogation operations are
never conducted in a vacuum: they are conducted in close cooperation
with the units detaining the individuals. The policies established by
the detaining units that pertain to searching, silencing, and
segregating also playa role in the interrogation of a detainee. Detainee
interrogation involves developing a plan tailored to an individual and
approved by senior interrogators. Strict adherence to policies/standard
operating procedures governing the administration of interrogation
techniques and oversight is essential.
Classified By:
Secretary of Defense
Reason:1.5(a)
Declassify On: 2 April 2013
NOT RELEASABLE TO
FOREIGN NATIONALS
(S/NF)
(U) It is important that interrogators be provided reasonable latitude
to vary techniques depending on the detainee's culture, strengths,
weaknesses, environment, extent of training in resistance techniques as
well as the urgency of obtaining information that the detainee is known
to have.
(S/NF)
(U) While techniques are considered individually within this analysis,
it must be understood that in practice, techniques are usually used in
combination; the cumulative effect of all techniques to b~ employed must
be considered before any decisions are made regarding approval for
particular situations. The title of a particular technique is not always
fully descriptive of a particular technique. With respect to the
employment of any techniques involving physical contact, stress or that
could produce physical pain or harm, a detailed explanation of that
technique must be provided to the decision authority prior to any
decision.
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