American Interrogation Are U.S. interrogation tactics too tough? Are U.S. interrogation tactics too lax?

Direct Questioning Description: Verbal questioning of a detainee. It works in 95 percent of situations. Description: Verbal questioning of a detainee. It works in 95 percent of situations. Physical, Psychological, or Other Effects: None Physical, Psychological, or Other Effects: None Locations Used: Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay Locations Used: Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay Legal Opinion: Considered legal for all prisoners of war. A prisoner who gives his name, rank, and serial number may still be questioned under reasonable conditions. Legal Opinion: Considered legal for all prisoners of war. A prisoner who gives his name, rank, and serial number may still be questioned under reasonable conditions.

“Fear-up” Mild & Harsh Description: Dagger on table technique Description: Dagger on table technique Throwing objects and loud threats Throwing objects and loud threats Physical, Psychological, or Other Effects: Such questioning may rise to the level of psychological coercion or mental duress. Physical, Psychological, or Other Effects: Such questioning may rise to the level of psychological coercion or mental duress. Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Legal Opinion: Generally acceptable up to a point. No physical contact. Legal Opinion: Generally acceptable up to a point. No physical contact.

Pride and Ego Description: Involves flattering/tricking a detainee into talking about the greatness of his military/terrorist org. Description: Involves flattering/tricking a detainee into talking about the greatness of his military/terrorist org. Physical, Psychological, or Other Effects: If it worked, detainees may feel remorseful afterward. Physical, Psychological, or Other Effects: If it worked, detainees may feel remorseful afterward. Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Legal Opinion: No problems Legal Opinion: No problems

Futility Description: resistance is futile. The prisoner has no hope and must help the U.S. in order to be spared. Description: resistance is futile. The prisoner has no hope and must help the U.S. in order to be spared. Detainees who actually believe their existence to be futile may become depressed/ suicidal Psychol. Effects: Detainees who actually believe their existence to be futile may become depressed/ suicidal Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Legal Opinion: The futility approach does not break the law, but can when prisoners are held for long periods Legal Opinion: The futility approach does not break the law, but can when prisoners are held for long periods

"Mutt and Jeff" (aka "good cop/bad cop") Description: “Bad cop" threatens/acts in a way that creates fear/anxiety. “Good cop" comes in to displace the bad cop, to protect the detainee. Description: “Bad cop" threatens/acts in a way that creates fear/anxiety. “Good cop" comes in to displace the bad cop, to protect the detainee. Physical, Psychological Effects: Negligible Physical, Psychological Effects: Negligible Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Legal Opinion: Rarely illegal Legal Opinion: Rarely illegal

Dietary Manipulation Descrip: Withdrawal of hot meals in favor of an all-MRE diet as punishment. MRE=“meal ready to eat”. Also may alter timing of meals Descrip: Withdrawal of hot meals in favor of an all-MRE diet as punishment. MRE=“meal ready to eat”. Also may alter timing of meals Phys. or Pych. Effects: Feeding them an MRE diet is unlikely to harm them. Diet modification, could cause psychological effects. Phys. or Pych. Effects: Feeding them an MRE diet is unlikely to harm them. Diet modification, could cause psychological effects. Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Legal opinion: Legal Legal opinion: Legal

Exploiting individual phobias, e.g. use of dogs Description: "increasing anxiety by use of aversions." Description: "increasing anxiety by use of aversions." This technique may be followed by scare tactics/threats. Also may let the dog off the leash so it could tear into the detainee's flesh. The tactic can also be conducted in public areas to scare other detainees. This technique may be followed by scare tactics/threats. Also may let the dog off the leash so it could tear into the detainee's flesh. The tactic can also be conducted in public areas to scare other detainees. Physical, Psych. Effects: Severe emotional distress; paranoia; physical manifestations of the fear such as high heart rate, & increased blood pressure. Physical, Psych. Effects: Severe emotional distress; paranoia; physical manifestations of the fear such as high heart rate, & increased blood pressure.

Exploiting individual phobias cont. Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay Legal Opinion: Army intelligence doctrine does not directly speak to dog use because the dogs belong to military police units. Military police doctrine does not allow threatening use of dogs. Legal Opinion: Army intelligence doctrine does not directly speak to dog use because the dogs belong to military police units. Military police doctrine does not allow threatening use of dogs.

Mild, non-injurious physical contact, e.g. grabbing, poking, or light pushing Description: Physical contact can result in mild injuries ex) cuts, bruises. In some cases, it can also result in broken or dislocated limbs. Description: Physical contact can result in mild injuries ex) cuts, bruises. In some cases, it can also result in broken or dislocated limbs. Physical, Psychological, or Other Effects: Severe emotional distress; paranoia; high heart rate & increased blood pressure Physical, Psychological, or Other Effects: Severe emotional distress; paranoia; high heart rate & increased blood pressure Legal Opinion: Relatively permissible. Legal Opinion: Relatively permissible.

Mock executions Detainee digs own grave or is fired upon close to head/body Description: Detainee digs own grave or is fired upon close to head/body Severe mental suffering. Physical, Psychological, or Other Effects: Severe mental suffering. Iraq Locations Used: Iraq Violates Law Legal Opinion: Violates Law

"Sleep adjustment"; "Sleep deprivation" Description: altering the sleep cycles of detainees by reversing day and night to induce disorientation, or keeping them awake (not to exceed 4 days) Physical, Psychological Effects: Can impair memory, learning, & other cognitive functions. Can cause memory and speech impairments. Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Illegal

Removal of clothing; sexual humiliation Description: sexual humiliation to break down detainees Physical, Psychological, or Other Effects: degradation Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay Legal Opinion: Illegal

Religious desecration Jumping/burning a Koran/Bible Description: Jumping/burning a Koran/Bible Physical, Psychological, or Other Effects: None Physical, Psychological, or Other Effects: None Locations Allegedly Used: Afghanistan and Guantanamo Locations Allegedly Used: Afghanistan and Guantanamo Illegal Illegal

"Stress positions, like standing" Description: Posing a detainee in a standing position several hours. No restraints are used. Variations-the extension of one's arms to side Description: Posing a detainee in a standing position several hours. No restraints are used. Variations-the extension of one's arms to side Biological effects: producing 'excruciating pain' as ankles double in size, skin 'tense and intensely painful,' blisters erupt oozing 'watery serum,' heart rates soar, kidneys shut down, and delusions deepen. Biological effects: producing 'excruciating pain' as ankles double in size, skin 'tense and intensely painful,' blisters erupt oozing 'watery serum,' heart rates soar, kidneys shut down, and delusions deepen. Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Illegal Illegal

Isolation for up to 30 days Description: sequestering an inmate in a cell by himself with no outside contact for up to 30 days Description: sequestering an inmate in a cell by himself with no outside contact for up to 30 days Psychological effects: psychological harm Psychological effects: psychological harm Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan No ruling on this practice No ruling on this practice

Deployment of the Immediate Reaction Force (aka "IRFings") Description: military police would rush into a cell to grab a detainee, forcibly subdue him, bind him, and take him out. Description: military police would rush into a cell to grab a detainee, forcibly subdue him, bind him, and take him out. Severe Physical Injuries Severe Physical Injuries Locations Used: Guantanamo Bay Locations Used: Guantanamo Bay Legal?: Should be used as quick reaction force not as punishers Legal?: Should be used as quick reaction force not as punishers

Water boarding Description: induce the misperception of suffocation Description: induce the misperception of suffocation Physical, Psychological: Severe mental suffering; no physical effects unless the tactic results in suffocation. Physical, Psychological: Severe mental suffering; no physical effects unless the tactic results in suffocation. Locations Used: Unknown secret locations Locations Used: Unknown secret locations Illegal Illegal

Physical beatings Description: beating captives during interrogation until they are seriously injured, or in some cases, dead. Description: beating captives during interrogation until they are seriously injured, or in some cases, dead. Physical, Psychological, or Other Effects: Several physical abuse has resulted in soft-tissue damage, orthopedic injuries, neurological damage, and death. Physical, Psychological, or Other Effects: Several physical abuse has resulted in soft-tissue damage, orthopedic injuries, neurological damage, and death. Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Locations Used: Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan Illegal Illegal