UNCLASSIFIED// FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

...

UNCLASSIFIED// FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

Date: 20020010

TO: ALEC

FROM:

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY -I.._ __ __,,TEAM ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT STATUS OF THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION STRATEGY OF ABU ZUBAYDAH

TOR: 100335Z AUG 02 L__ _ ___,J 1o6 o 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------S B e R E T 100331Z AUG 02 STAFF

CITED10607

TO: IMMEDIATE ALEC INFO DIRECTOR,

FOR: cTcDrNFo\ CTC/LGL, L__ ________ ____,/ OMsc=J oTc=J

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - .._I __ ___,/ TEAM ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT STATUS OF THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION STRATEGY OF ABU ZUBAYDAH

REF:

TEXT:

1. ACTION REQUIRED: PLEASE SEE PARA 7 ON DESIRABILITY OF HOLDING A VTC WITH HQS AT I !AUGUST (HQS TIME), AND PARA 8 REQUEST FOR INDICATIONS OF STEPS TO BE TAKEN POST-INTERROGATION.

I !RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS RESPONSE BY OOB 11 AUGUST CJ. '-----

Salim v. Mitchell - United States Bates #002340 02/21 /2017


2. SUMMARY: !TEAM'S COLLECTIVE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT IS THAT IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY ((ABU ZUBAYDAH)) (SUBJECT) HAS ACTIONABLE NEW INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENT THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES. TEAM THINKS, HOWEVER, SUBJECT IS STILL HOLDING BACK INFORMATION ABOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT IN PAST OPERATIONS. THE CURRENT LEVEL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURES WILL BE MAINTAINED FOR THE TIME BEING TO REFINE THIS PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT. THE CONDITIONING PROCESS HAS BEEN FASTER THAN ANTICIPATED, PRIMARILY BECAUSE THE WATERBOARD QUICKLY OVERWHELMED SUBJECT'S ABILITY TO RESIST. TO AVOID THE RISK OF GOING BEYOND LEGAL AUTHORITIES, WE DO NOT RECOMMEND ESCALATING THE PRESSURE. IF A HQS TEAM CANNOT VISIT SITE EARLY THE WEEK OF 12 AUGUST, RECOMMEND A vTc WITH\ \sTATroNj j AT 0900 ON 13 AUGUST (HQS TIME) TO DISCUSS TEAM'S PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT AND POST-INTERROGATION STEPS WITH SUBJECT. END SUMMARY.

3. THIS CABLE HAS BEEN COORDINATED WITH coaj JI

I J WHAT FOLLOWS IS rcOLLECTIVE TEAM ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE

'---A-GG_R_E_S_S_,IVE INTERROGATION STRATEGY VIS-A-VIS THE CRITICAL QUESTION OF WHETHER SUBJECT HAS ANY ACTIONABLE NEW INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENT THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES. THIS ASSESSMENT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE SESSIONS CONDUCTED FROM 4 AUGUST TO DATE. THESE SESSIONS INVOLVED USE OF MOST OF THE APPROVED PSYCHOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES AUTHORIZED PER REF C, INCLUDING THE WATER BOARD.

4. AT THIS JUNCTURE IN THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PROCESS, IT IS THE TEAM'S COLLECTIVE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT THAT IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY SUBJECT HAS ACTIONABLE NEW INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENT THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES. THIS SAID, THE TEAM PLANS TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT LEVEL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURES FOR THE TIME BEING TO DEVELOP AND REFINE THIS PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT.

5. AS NOTED ABOVE, THE INTERROGATION STRATEGY COMMENCED ON 4 AUGUST AND WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED MOST OF THE APPROVED PSYCHOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING THE WATER BOARD. LARGELY BECAUSE OF USE OF THE WATER BOARD, THE CONDITIONING PROCESS HAS BEEN FASTER THAN ANTICIPATED. IN OUR COLLECTIVE OPINION, THE WATERBOARD HAS OVERWHELMED SUBJECT'S ABILITY TO RESIST. FURTHERMORE, IT IS OUR ASSESSMENT THAT THE INTENSITY OF THE PRESSURE APPLIED TO HIM THUS FAR APPROACHES THE LEGAL LIMIT. FOR THE TIME BEING, CURRENT LEVELS CAN BE MAINTAINED WITHOUT VIOLATING THE LAW. FOR THIS REASON, WE DO NOT RECOMMEND ESCALATING THE INTENSITY OF THE PRESSURE, BUT RECOMMEND HOLDING IT AT PRESENT LEVELS TO ALLOW FOR MORE DEFINITIVE JUDGMENT. ACCORDING TO THE MEDICAL OFFICER ON THE SCENE, UNDER CURRENT MEDICAL INTERVENTION SUBJECT'S MEDICAL STATUS rs LIKELY TO DETERIORATE TO AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, AND THUS WILL CONTINUE TO BE CLOSELY MONITORED.


. - ....


6. ABOVE NOTWITHSTANDING, I \TEAM THINKS SUBJECT IS STILL HOLDING BACK INFORMATION. IT IS LIKELY, HOWEVER, THAT THIS INFORMATION IS RELATED TO SUBJECT'S INVOLVEMENT IN PAST OPERATIONS. IT IS ALSO OUR OPINION THAT: SUBJECT CAN STILL BE A PRODUCTIVE SOURCE OF INFORMATION CONCERNING PAST OPERATIONS; SUBJECT CAN IDENTIFY AND PROVIDE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON OTHER OPERATIVES; AND SUBJECT CAN PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THE WAY THE AL QA'IDA NETWORK FUNCTIONS.

7. AS NOTED REF B, I THAT AN OBSERVER TEAM INCLUDING A SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE OF CTC TRAVEL TO OBSERVE ONGOING INTERROGATIONS DURING THE WEEK OF 12 AUGUST 02. THE PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST WAS TO GIVE A HQS TEAM AN ON-THE-GROUND APPRECIATION FOR THE TACTICS/TECHNIQUES BEING USED AS A WAY OF ASSURING HQS THAT TECHNIQUES ARE BEING APPLIED TO THE LETTER/INTENT OF THE LAW, ALLOW A HQS TEAM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS TEAM CONCERNS REGARDING POSITIVE/NEGATIVE IMPACT OF INCREASED PYSCHOLOGICAL PRESSURE TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS RE ACTIONABLE THREAT INFORMATION, AND REINFORCE TEAM REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION OF THE END GAME STRATEGY RE SUBJECT. GIVEN THE SPEED WITH WHICH SUBJECT HAS REACTED TO THE WATERBOARD PROCEDURE, OVERALL CONCERNS THAT CURRENT PRESSURES NOT BE EXCEEDED, THE FACT THAT THIS PHASE IS POSSIBLY BEST BROUGHT TO CLOSURE WITHIN THE NEXT TEN DAYS, AND ON-THE-GROUND DISCUSSIONS WITH COS WHICH FORMED THE BASIS FOR THIS CABLE, TEAM PROPOSES A VTC (WITH TAPE FOOTAGE FOR HQS TO OBSERVE) AT 0900 ON 13 AUGUST HQS TIME -------,

WHILE TEAM CONTINUES TO BELIEVE A FIRST-HAND, ON-THE-GROUND LOOK IS BEST, IF A HQS TEAM CANNOT MAKE IT BY EARLY THE WEEK OF 12 AUG, THE VTC WILL ACCOMPLISH THE IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENT AS WE SEE IT.

8. LOOKING AHEAD: STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT THE ABOVE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT, AND REFINEMENTS OF IT TO FOLLOW, MAKE EVEN MORE URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS STEPS TO BE TAKEN WITH SUBJECT AFTER THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PHASE ENDS. l

ALL CONCERNED -- HQS/ALEC, STATION,l j- MUST DEVELOP A COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF AT LEAST THE NEXT STEP, IF NOT THE NEXT SEVERAL STEPS. ALEC/HQS COMMENTS WELCOME AND SOLICITED. REGARDS.

9.

CABLETYPE:

END OF MESSAGE


•'


...._ Date: 20020810

TO:

FROM:

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - COMMENTS ON PROGRESS WITH ABU ZUBAYDAH INTERROGATION: LET'S STAY THE COURSE

TOT: 101728Z AUG 02 ALEC 184255 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------S E C R E T STAFF 101737Z ALEC 184255 TO: IMMEDIATED INFO! L __ __JI DIRECTOR.

FROM: CTCj \INFO DDO, ADDO, CHIEF/CTC, CTcc-JcTc=:J_ CTCBTC/LGL, I I OMSL____j OTS


REF: Aj

TEXT:

1106071 r



1. ACTION REQUIRED: PLEASE STAY THE COURSE, MEDICAL SITUATION PERMITTING, AND BE CERTAIN YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT.

2. MUCH APPRECIATE REF DETAILED, TIMELY REPORTING OF YOUR WORK Ai I WE READ CAREFULLY THE WEEK'S INTERROGATION RESULTS, AND YOUR RECENTLY SUBMITTED PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF THE INTERROGATION SITUATION. WE SEE THIS POINT AS STILL EARLY IN THE PHASE TWO PROCESS, AND WHILE THE WORK IS DIFFICULT, WE SEE SOME POSITIVE TRENDS. YOU ARE SUCCEEDING IN PLACING EFFECTIVE INTERROGATION STRESS ON ABU ZUBAYDAH IN KEEPING WITH THE INTERROGATION GUIDELINES. ABU ZUBAYDAH IS FEELING THE INCREASED PRESSURE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE HAS BEGUN TO SHARE DISSEMINABLE INFORMATION - AT THE END OF A WEEK. WHILE THE VALUE OF THIS INFORMATION IS MODEST, IT IS VERIFIABLE AND CAN BE USED AS THE BASIS FOR FUTURE INTEROGATIONS. IT MAY CLEAR THE WAY FOR MORE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS. THE BOTTOM LINE, IN OUR VIEW, IS THAT REF DEVELOPMENTS ARE ENCOURAGING AND MORE THAN JUSTIFY STAYING THE COURSE. OUR ASSESSMENT REMAINS THAT AaU ZUBAYDAH IS IN POSSESSION OF CRITICAL INFORMATION.

3. BECAUSE OF THIS, WE BELIEVE THAT THE AGGRESSIVE PHASE MUST CONTINUE.

4. WE KNOW THIS IS A A VERY DIFFICULT ASSIGNMENT. YOUR TASK IS UNIQUE, STRESSFUL ON THE PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT AND SENSITIVE. YOU ARE DOING THIS WORK FAR FROM HOME AND YOUR COLLEAGUES. DON'T LET THIS DISTANCE LEAD YOU TO THINK THAT YOU HAVE ANYTHING BUT OUR COMPLETE SUPPORT.

s. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE I fTC VTC SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY I 13 AUGUST. WE CANNOT GET A TDY VISIT TEAM TO I._ ___ BEFORE THAT VTC, SO SUGGEST THE VISIT AND ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF THE I ioPERATION BE DISCUSSED THEN. THROUGHOUT THIS OPERATION BUT ESPECIALLY IN THIS PHASE, CLOSE COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT. YOUR REPORTING IS EXCELLENT; IT IS OUR AIM TO PROVIDE YOU THE MOST USEFUL AND RAPID SUPPORT WE CAN. WARM REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON.

l

I

END OF MESSAGE

J


.. UNCLASSIFIED// FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

Date: 20020811

TO: ALEC

FROM:


J

TOR: 02 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------s E e R E T i1c::==JAuG 02 STAFF

CITE

TO: IMMEDIATE ALEC INFO DIRECTOR,[.__ ___ _,

FOR: DDO, ADDO, CHIEF/CTC, =====-[ L_J I oMsCJ oTs I CTC/LGL,


A. ALEC 184255 I I B 10610 L. _____ __, c.

REF:

TEXT:

1. ACTION REQUIRED: PLS SEE BELOW AND WELCOME SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR USE WITH ABU ZUBAYADH. THANKS.

2. SUMMARY: --1 'TEAM BELIEVES THE CURRENT BEHAVIOR OF ( (ABU ZUBAYDAH) )


.. '


INDICATES HE HAS NO NEW OR CURRENT INFORMATION ABOUT THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES. -- SUBJECT DOES HAVE DISSEMINABLE INFORMATION RELATING TO PAST OPERATIONS. -- SUBJECT HAS UNDERGONE A BEHAVIORAL TRANSFORMATION DURING THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PHASE, TO THE EXTENT HE IS ALMOST TOTALLY COMPLIANT. -- I !WELCOMES ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUIREMENTS ON SUBJECT'S KNOWLEDGE OF NEW THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES WHICH WE CAN USE IN FORTHCOMING SESSIONS. END SUMMARY.

3. I APPRECIATES REF FEEDBACK CONCERNING CURRENT STATE OF PLAY OF THE ((ABU ZUBAYDAH)) (SUBJECT) INTERROGATION.

TEAM AND I [sTATION LOOK FORWARD TO THE PLANNED 13 AUGUST VTC TO ADDRESS A NUMBER OF CRITICAL ISSUES.

4. FOR THE RECORD, WISH TO UNDERSCORE ONE POINT RE REF PARA TWO COMMENT CONCERNING 11 DISSEMINABLE INFORMATION". REF PARA TWO NOTED THAT SUBJECT"·· .HAS BEGUN TO SHARE DISSEMINABLE INFORMATION - AT THE END OF A WEEK ... " WHILE THIS IS TRUE WE BELIEVE THE CONTEXT IS MISSING AND NEEDS TO BE DOCUMENTED. FROM THE OUTSET· OF THIS PHASE, THE TEAM HAS FOCUSED ON OUR SINGULAR MISSION: TO IDENTIFY WHAT CRITICAL NEW INFORMATION SUBJECT HAS RELATED TO THREATS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES. SUBJECT'S PERSISTENT RESPONSES TO THIS KEY MISSION QUESTION HAVE BEEN "I HAVE NO MORE" OR "I HAVE NOTHING MORE" OR "I TOLD YOU EVERYTHING". THESE ARE BUT A SAMPLING OF SUBJECT'S RESPONSES ON THIS ISSUE. IN OTHER WORDS SUBJECT SAYS HE KNOWS OF NO THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES OTHER THAN THOSE HE HAS ALREADY MENTIONED.

5. TO ELABORATE, IT IS BECOMfNG INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT, WHILE SUBJECT HAS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN GENERAL, HIS BEHAVIOR STRONGLY INDICATES THAT THIS INFORMATION RELATES TO PAST ACTIVITIES VICE NEW/CURRENT THREATS. IN AN EFFORT TO TEST THIS BELIEF AND TO GAUGE SUBJECT'S LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE, AT THE END OF THE WEEK THE TEAM DELIBERATELY ALBEIT BRIEFLY SWITCHED TOPICS FROM CURRENT THREATS TO PAST OPERATIONS. AT THAT POINT, SUBJECT IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED FROM PERSISTENT ADAMANT DENIALS TO SPONTANEOUS PROVISION OF ANSWERS (TO INCLUDE NEW NUGGETS OF INFORMATION REFERENCED IN REF A). SUBJECT'S BEHAVIORAL TRANSITION STRONGLY SUGGESTS THAT THE TECHNIQUES IMPLEMENTED ON A 24/7 BASIS FOR THE LAST EIGHT DAYS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE AND HAVE PRODUCED THE DESIRED RESULTS OF ALMOST TOTAL COMPLIANCE ON SUBJECT'S PART. DESPITE SUBJECT'S HIGH LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE, THUS FAR SUBJECT HAS NOT PROVIDED DETAILS OR SPECIFICS ABOUT THREATS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES BEYOND THAT WHICH HE HAS ALREADY MENTIONED.

6. l.__ __ FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING VTC AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ILLUSTRATE VIA VIDEO THE PROFOUND TRANSFORMATION THAT SUBJECT HAS UNDERGONE AS A RESULT OF THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PHASE, WHICH HAS BEEN WITNESSED FIRST HAND I ABOVE NOTWITHSTANDING, WE WOULD WELCOME SPECIFIC



QUESTIONS/REQUIREMENTS/SUGGESTIONS TO ADDRESS WITH SUBJECT THE MISSION CRITICAL QUESTION RE CURRENT THREAT AGAINST THE UNITED STATES. REGARDS.

CABLETYPE:

END OF MESSAGE


iJ ,,

The sender's Identity cannot be verified • If you question the validity of1hls mall 's content, please contact your ISSM.

120624Z AUG 02 STAFF

CITE I j1os1s

TO: IMMEDIATE ALEC INFO._! __ ___,plRECTOR.

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - 13 AUGUST .VTC CONSIDERATIONS

REF: ALEC ___ _

TEXT:

1. ACTION REQUIRED: PLEASE SEE BELOW.

2, I IBASE GREATLY LOOKS FORWARD TO 13 AUGUST VTC AT 0900 HOS TIME. BASE WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES OF VIDEO CLIPS OF

100022


THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PHASE TO PRESENT. THE CLIPS ARE QUITE GRAPH IC /l,ND WILL BE DISTURBING TO SOME VIEWERS. ON BEHALF OF THOSE I /TEAM MEMBERS WHOSE FACES APPEAR IN THEM, BASE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS:

- HOS ATIENDEES AT THE vrc BE LIMITED TO THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE DIRECT DEllSIONMAllNG CHAIN, INCLUDING APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT FROM CTC

··NO TAPING OR OTHER REPRODUCTION BE MADE OF THE TAPES WE WILL SHOW;

•• THE VTC OPERA TOR BE THOROUGHLY BRIEFED ON HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP TO HIMSELF/HERSELF WHAT APPEARS IN THE TAPES AND NOT TO REPRODUCE THEM FROM THE FEED.

3. BASE REALIZES THESE POINTS WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF VTC PREPARATIONS. HOWEVER, IN RESPECT OF THE CONCERNS OF THOSE WHO COULD BE IDENTIFIED ON THE TAPES, BASE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE HOS REASSURANCES ON THIS SCORE.

4. IN ADDITION TO BASE BRIEFING ON PROCESS AND OUTCOME TO DATE, BASE WOULD APPRECIATE DISCUSSION AT tHE vrc OF HQS THOUGHTS ON HOW AND WHEN TO TRANSITION FROM THE AGGRESSIVE PHASE TO THE NEXT PHASE. we ARE ALSO HIGHLY INTERESTED TO LEARN WHAT THE NEXT PHASE WILL BE, WHERE IT WILL BE: CONDUCTED, ANO INDEED THE END GAME FOR ABU ZUBAYDAH.

5. THIS CABLE HAS BEEN COORDINATED

CABLETYPE:

END OF MESSAGE Sr

Salim v. Mitchell . United States Bates #002349


Date: 20020813

TO:

FROM:

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - HQS ASSESSMENT OF ABU ZUBAYDAH'S INVOLVEMENT IN POTENTIAL TERRORIST PLANNING AND OPERATIONS

------------ ----- ------

TOT: 02

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------S B C R El T

' 13 . TO: IMMEDIATE l-l ____ lrnFo '-----------

FROM: cTcc==JINFo ooo, ADDO, CHIEF/CTC, J

I -OMSCJ OTS/D

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - HQS ASSESSMENT OF ABU ZUBAYDAH'S INVOLVEMENT IN POTENTIAL TERRORIST PLANNING AND OPERATIONS

REF: A. I 110612 B. ALEC 18425511 I I TEXT:

1. ACTION REQUIRED: REQUEST '-I __ __,ITEAM REVIEW BELOW FOR THE COMPELLING CASE OF ABU ZUBAYDAH'S KNOWLEDGE OF POTENTIAL THREATS TO U.S. INTERESTS AND USE THE PARA REQUIREMENTS IN UPCOMING INTERROGATIONS.

2. WE EFFORTS TO DATE IN THE


J


DIFFICULT INTERROGATION OF ((ABU ZUBAYDAH)), (SUBJECT), THE MOST SENIOR AL-QA'IDA OPERATIVE CURRENTLY IN USG CUSTODY. AS NOTED IN REFS, THE INCREASED PRESSURE PHASE OF THE INTERROGATIONS HAS RESULTED IN A COMPLIANT SUBJECT, APPARENTLY WILLING TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS AND APPARENTLY PROVIDE INFORMATION. TO SUMMARIZE THE TEAM'S COMMENTS ON SUBJECT'S BEHAVIOR AFTER NINE DAYS OF THE INTENSIFIED INTERROGATION STAGE:

SUBJECT APPEARS WILLING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON PAST ACTIVITIES AND LIKELY HAS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OF VALUE IN THIS AREA.

-- SUBJECT CONTINUES TO INSIST THAT HE KNOWS OF NO THREATS OR CURRENT OPERATIONAL PLANS FOR ATTACKS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OTHER THAN THOSE HE HAS ALREADY MENTIONED.

-- IT IS THE COLLECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE TEAM THAT THE BEHAVIOR OF SUBJECT SUGGESTS THAT HE HAD NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON CURRENT THREATS.

3. THE BODY OF INTELLIGENCE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR ASSESSMENT THAT SUBJECT HAS KNOWLEDGE OF POTENTIAL THREAT PLANNING OR OPERATIONS IS NOTED BELOW. HQS BELIEVES THAT FOCUSING REQUIREMENTS ON THESE ISSUES -- ABOUT WHICH WE HAVE HIGH CONFIDENCE ABU ZUBAYDAH HAS PRIVILEGED INFORMATION -- WILL HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT IN THE INTERROGATION PROCESS, PARTICULARLY IF ABU ZUBAYDAH INDEED HAS REACHED A WEAKENED MENTAL STATE. PLEASE DRAW FROM THE FOLLOWING FOR FOLLOW-UP REQUIREMENTS FOR USE IN THE ONGOING INTERROGATION OF SUBJECT:

-- SUBJECT'S POTENTIAL KNOWLEDGE OF AL-QA'IDA OPERATIVES IN THE UNITED STATES.

, SUBJECT IS WITHHOLDING IMPORTANT DETAILS, IN OUR VIEW, ON OPERATIONAL ACTIVITY IN THE UNITED STATES.



-- SUBJECT'S POSITION IN THE AL-QA'IDA NETWORK AND HIS KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER CELLS (AND 11 SEPT) SUGGEST HE WOULD BE AWARE OF MEMBERS IN THE U.S. - AT LEAST THEIR NAMES/PHONE NUMBERS. HE SERVED AS THE FACILITATOR FOR SUCH OPERATIVES.

-- SUBJECT ADMITS THAT HE PLANNED TO USE "DIRTY BOMB" SUSPECTS JOSE ((PADILLA) AND BINYAM AHMAD ((MOHAMMAD)).

l L_ _____________ _,_{ AS IN THE CASE OF PADILLA AND

MOHAMMAD, LEARNING THE NAMES AND OBTAINING DESCRIPTIONS OF SUCH OPERATIVES COULD PERMIT US THE CHANCE TO PUT DANGEROUS OPERATIVES POISED TO KILL AMERICANS BEHIND BARS.

SUBJECT'S OWN NOTEBOOKS AND DIARIES CONTAIN DETAILS OF POTENTIAL AL-QA'IDA PLANS TO ATTACK A VARIETY OF TARGETS IN CONUS.



4. BASE HAS ALSO NOTED THAT SUBJECT HAS UNDERGONE A PROFOUND TRANSFORMATION AS A RESULT OF THE INTENSIFIED INTERROGATION PHASE. A FURTHER TEST OF THIS CHANGE WOULD BE TO QUERY SUBJECT AGAIN ON NON-U.S. SPECIFIC THREATS. SHOULD THE TEAM DETERMINE THAT SUCH A TEST WOULD AGAIN BE WORTHWHILE, WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTED TOPICS TO EXPLORE. SUBJECT HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN RELUCTANT TO PROVIDE DETAILS ON THESE ISSUES:





5. AS THE TEAM IS AWARE, THE INCREDIBLE EFFORT, FOCUS, AND ATTENTION I PLACED oN THE OF ABU ZUBAYDAH IS DUE TO THE STRONG ANALYTICAL AND OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT THAT ABU ZUBAYDAH HAD PRIVILEGED INFORMATION ON THREATS TO U.S. INTERESTS.

6. WE BELIEVE THE ABOVE WILL BE HELPFUL IN DEBRIEFING SUBJECT, AND AIDING IN THE EVALUATION OF HIS WILLINGNESS TO BE FORTHCOMING REGARDING THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES.

END OF MESSAGE


UNCLASSIFIED II FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

•· -·-·Date:

FROM:

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - FOLLOW-UP ON THE 13 AUGUST VTC

=

TOT: 13c=JAUG 02 ALEC I ---------------------------------------------------------------_-__ S E C R El T STAFF ·- 13r=J ALEC I TO 1 _______ DIRECTOR.

FROM: CTC CTC/LGL,

INFO ooo, ADDO. CHIEF I CTC, cTcj==:J [ I OMSc==:J OTsc===J '--------------------,"

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - FOLLOW-UP ON THE 13 AUGUST VTC

REF: I

c. ALEC 184255 I L 11 D. I 110607 I I 11

TEXT:

l. ACTION REQUIRED: l) PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION STRATEGY FOR THE NEXT 2-3 WEEKS.

'----__,,-------'-, CONCURRENCE AND POC/HOTEL INFORMATION FOR IMMEDIATE TDY ALEC I I ANr(JCTC/LGL r----;_P-ER-B-EL_O...JW ITINERARY.

2. HQS/ALEC MUCH APPRECIATES OPPORTUNITY AFFORDED BY TODAY'S VTC To 01seuss WITH THE I !TEAM AND cosJ loUR CURRENT

Salim v. Mitchell - United States Bates #002356 02121/2017


.. "' _....,STRATEGY ON DEBRIEFING ( (ABU ZUBAYDAH) ) . BASED ON THE COMPELLING

BODY OF REPORTING OUTLINED IN REF A, IT REMAINS THE HQS CONSENSUS THAT ABU ZUBAYDAH POSSESSES PRIVILEGED INFORMATION ON A VARIETY OF AL-QA'IDA ISSUES THAT POTENTIALLY COULD PROVIDE ACTIONABLE LEADS TO THREATS AGAINST US INTERESTS. WE UNDERSTAND THE COLLECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE TEAM IS THAT ABU ZUBAYDAH HAS NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO PROVIDE ON WHAT HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN DEFINED AS THE "CORE QUESTIONS" WHICH ADDRESS THE NEXT ATTACK PLANNED AGAINST U.S. INTERESTS, WHO ARE THE OPERATIVES INVOLVED, DETAILS OF THE SUPPORT NETWORK, AND DETAILS OF THE CELLS IN THE U.S. NOW. THE TEAM HAS ALSO ASSESSED THAT ABU ZUBAYDAH HAS BECOME COMPLIANT AND APPEARS WILLING TO DISCUSS OTHER ISSUES. AS A MEANS OF TESTING ABU ZUBAYDAH'S COMPLIANCE, WE AGREE WITH THE TEAM'S APPROACH TO WIDEN THE SCOPE OF QUESTIONING. WE WILL BE SENDING SPECIFIC, DETAILED REQUIREMENTS ON ISSUES AND TOPICS THAT WE ARE CERTAIN ABU ZUBAYDAH HAS DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF. WE CONTINUE TO ASSESS THAT OBTAINING INFORMATION FROM ABU ZUBAYDAH IS CRITICAL TO SAVING AMERICAN LIVES. THE EVIDENCE OF ABU ZUBAYDAH'S INVOLVEMENT IN OPERATIONAL PLANNING PRIOR TO HIS CAPTURE SIMPLY DOES NOT SQUARE WITH THE VAGUE, GENERAL INFORMATION HE HAS PROVIDED TO DATE, DESPITE THE PASSIVITY OF HIS CURRENT BEHAVIOR AND THE PERSISTENCY OF HIS DENIALS.

3. AS NOTED IN THE VTC, DURING THIS PERIOD OF EXPANDED QUESTIONING, WE WILL BE CONTINUING WITH THE CURRENT MODIFIED INTERROGATION STRATEGY, WITH OF THE PRESSURES WE HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITIES TO BRING TO BEAR ON ABU ZUBAYDAH FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT TWO IF NOT THE NEXT THREE WEEKS. REST ASSURED THAT EVERY ACTION THE I ITEAM HAS TAKEN WITH ABU ZUBAYDAH FALLS WELL WITHIN THESE LEGAL PARAMETERS. AS HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE THE START OF THIS PROCESS, THEI !TEAM MAY USE ITS DISCRETION ON THE TYPE AND FREQUENCY OF PRESSURES USED AGAINST ABU ZUBAYDAH AS LONG AS THE STRESS REMAINS ON HIM TO BE COMPLIANT AND TO . PRODUCE ACTIONABLE INFORMATION. HQS/ALEC BELIEVES THAT IT IS CRITICAL TO MAINTAIN AN AGGRESSIVE STRATEGY IN Tl;!ESE INTERROGATIONS AND TO USE THE PRESSURES SHREWDLY SO THAT WE MAXIMIZE THE INFORMATION ABU ZUBAYDAH PROVIDES.

4. AS SUGGESTED IN THE VTC AND WITH_1iASE 1 S CONCURRE_N_CR 5 j THE SERE INTERROGATORS WILL

L--C-0-NT_IN_U_E_T_O_B_E_R_E_SP_O_N_S_I_B_L_E_FO_R__, ENSURING THAT ABU ZUBAYDAH REMAINS

COMPLIANT THROUGH THE PRESSURES WHILEI lwILL HEAD UP THE

J

SUBSTANTIVE INTERROGATIONS. ALEC STATION WILL SUPPORT THESE INTERROGATIONS THROUGH FOCUSED REQUIREMENTS AND IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK· ON ABU ZUBAYDAH'S DISCLOSURES. WILL BE ACCOMPANIED TO

I IBY AS WILL BE ON HAND TO PROVIDE LEGAL AND OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE, RESPECTIVELY. THEIR ITINERARY IS AS I I

Salim v. Mitchell - United States Bates #002357 02/21/2017

.. UNCLASSIFIED II FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

·1L_____ --5. AT THE END OF THIS INTERROGATION PROCESS, WE REALIZE AND

UNDERSTAND THAT WE MAY REPEAT LEARN THAT ABU ZUBAYDAH HAS THE INNER PERSONAL STRENGTH AND MENTAL ACOMEN TO WITHSTAND ANY PRESSURE WE CAN PUT TO BEAR AGAINST HIM. UNTIL WE REACH THE END OF THIS PHASE OF THE PROCESS, HOWEVER, WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO BEAR ALL OF THE RESOURCES, ENERGY, AND CREATIVITY WE CAN MUSTER TOWARD THESE INTERROGATIONS. WE THANK THEI jTEAM AND

FOR THE COMMITMENT YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED TO THIS CRITICAL MISSION. YOU HAVE OUR COMPLETE SUPPORT.

[

END OF MESSAGE

Salim v. Mitchell - United States Bates #002358 02/21/2017


I I * I I

STAFF

TOR: 141447Z AUG 02 10623

S E C R B T 141443Z AUG 02 STAFF

CITE\'--__ ___,\10623


FOR: CTcDINFO CHIEF/CTC, CTcr=:J ·,_1

.

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - DETAILS OF 13 AUGUST 2002 CYCLE OF INTERROGATIONS'OF ABU ZUBAYDAH

REF: A. I l1061s 1 [ I 1 B. DIREcTqR 397QS7l c. \ Jla42ss '---------'

· l . ·ACTION REQUIRED: NONE, FYI ONLY.

2... SUMMARY: DURING DAY TEN OF THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PHASE, SUBJECT PROVIDED NO NEW THREAT INFORMATION REGARDING PLANNED OR FUTURE TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST THE U.S. SUBJECT WAS INTERROGATED ONCE ON 13 AUGUST, WHILE STANDING AGAINST THE WALLING WALL. IN AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS, IN PARr, REF. C CONCERNS, THIS SESSION FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON SUBJECT'S PAST CONTACTS WITH AND RELATIONSHIP TO USAMA ((BIN LADIN)) (UBL). END SuMMARY. .

TEN OF THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PHASE COMMENCED .AT LOCAL TIM 13 AUGUST 2002. PICKING UP WHERE REF A UPDATE

LEFT OFF, 13 AUGUST ((ABU ZUBAYDAH)) (SUBJECT) WAS REMOVED FROM THE LARGE BOX BY SECURITY TEAM MEMBERS, AND SEATED ON THE FLOOR, HOODED. AT . SECURITY TEAM MEMBERS RETURNED

·wCT TO THE LARGE BOX, BEGINNING A NEW 24-HOUR TIME PERIOD. AT HOURS, SUBJECT WAS REMOVED FROM THE LARGE BOX BY THE SECURITY . . (INCLUDING ONE MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL STAFF. SUBJECT CLEANED HIS'

THEN HOODED, AND SEATED ON THE FLOOR, WHERE HE REMAINED 'lINTILL_____jHOURS. AT THIS TIME, INTERROGATORS ENTERED THE ROOM .. . SECURITY TEAM MEMBERS MOVED THE SMALL BOX TO ·THE SIDE WALL, 'AND THE WATER TABLE WAS WHEELED INTO VIEW. SUBJECT'S HOOD WAS REMOVED, HE WAS TOLD TO RISE, AND·AT THE GESTURE OF THE INTERROGATOR, WALKED OVER TO THE.WALLING WALL. THE SUPPORT WAS PLACED AROUND SUBJECT'S NECK BY THE INTERROGATOR. INTERROGATOR BEGAN THE SESSION BY REMINDING SUBJECT THAT THE 'LAST TIME THEY HAD· SPOKEN, SUBJECT

.CLAIMED HE WOULD BE SINCERE AND HELP THEM; THEY WERE GOING TO ASK HIM E QUESTIONS, .AND MEASURE HIS SINCERITY BY HIS RESPONSES.

TOLD SUBJECT THEY WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT UBL AND S RE;LATIONSHIP WITH HIM; SUBJECT WAS TO B.EGIN WITH THE LAST

TIME HE WAS WITH UBL, AND TO DESCRIBE WHERE THEY WERE, AND WHAT HAPPENED.

(JSP-1$7 DllCWnent: .Ru/062J UAUG2002 I Page I


.... ••

. ..

.:. ____ .:_ Document: Re

Salim v. Mitchell· un· 10621 /4AUG2002 I Page 2 tales Bates #002360

02/21 /2017

-..... . ..

Document: RTJi062314AUG20D2 I l'an 3 Salim v. Mitchell - Bates #002351

02/21 /2017

--

4

'···\.

' ·• L

10. INTERROGATORS THEN TOLD SUBJECT THEY WERE GOING TO PUT HIM ON THE FLOOR, AND HOPED HE· HAD BEEN SINCERE WITH THEM. SUBJECT REPLIED, . "INSHA'ALLAH (GOD WILLING), AM SINCERE -- I NOT HAYE CHANCE NOT TO BE SINCERE." SUBJECT WAS LED TO THE CORNER BY INTERROGATORS AND SAT ON THE FLOOR. INTERROGATORS REPEATED THE BRIDGE THAT THEY WANTED INFORMATION TO S'l'OP OPERA'l'IONS AGAINST THE U.S. , · AND WOULD GET IT FROM·HIM. INTERROGATORS DEPARTED THE ROOM ATc=JHOURS, AND SUBJECT WAS HOODED. !HOURS, SECURITY TEAM REMOVED SUBJECT'S HOOD,, AND PLACED HIM IN THE SMALL BOX.

CABLETYPE:

END OF MESSAGE

• \ .. _ ..

Document: Rer-10623 UAUG2001IPage4 Salim v. Mitchell - Bates #002362

02/21 /2017


Date: · 20020814

TO: ALEC

FROM:

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - SITREP ON ABU ZUBAYDAH AS OF 2002

14 AUGUST

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------TOR: 141541Z AUG 02

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------S E C R E T 141539Z AUG 02 STAFF

CITEJ I 10624

TO: IMMEDIATE ALEC INFO

FOR: CTCDINFO CHIEF/CTC,L..,,,=======_JCTC/LGL, '---===---'

OMSD OTSc:::::::J

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - SITREP ON ABU ZUBAYDAH AS 0 '-I __ _,114 AUGUST 2002

REF: A. DIRECTOR __

TEXT:

B. ALEC 1844951 C. ALEC 1816161 D.

1. ACTION REQUIRED: PLS SEE SEPARATE CABLE RE FULL DETAILS OF RESULTS OF 14 AUGUST CYCLE OF INTERROGATION SESSIONS.

2. OVERALL STATE OF PLAY: DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD, AFTER UNDERGOING A VARIETY OF APPROVED TECHNIQUES, ( (ABU ZUBAYDAH) )


... UNCLASSIFIED// FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

(SUBJECT) HAS CONTINUED TO SAY HE KNOWS OF NO THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES OTHER THAN THOSE HE HAS ALREADY MENTIONED. ON 14 AUGUST 02 --DAY 11 OF THE,, AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PHASE -- THE TEAM BEGAN WITH A STAFF MEETING TO REVIEW THE STRATEGY FOR THE DAY'S CYCLE OF INTERROGATION SESSIONS. OUR -- IN KEEPING WITH THE CURRENT REVISED MISSION PER REF B AND CONSISTENT WITH REF A APPROVALS AND GUIDELINES -- FOCUSED ON QUESTIONING SUBJECT ON WHAT HE KNOWS, AS OF THE TIME OF HIS ARREST, ABOUT TERRORIST OPERATIONS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OR THREATS AGAINST UNITED STATES INTERESTS AND ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESSED SOME OF REFS C AND D REQUIREMENTS/BACKGROUND POINTS. DETAILS OF THIS CYCLE OF INTERROGATION SESSIONS WILL BE ADDRESSED SEPARATELY. IN SHORT, HOWEVER, NO SIGNIFICANT NEW DETAILS EMERGED FROM SESSIONS, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO NEW THREAT INFORMATION.

3. ATMOSPHERICS/BEHAVIORAL COMMENTS: WHILE BEING SUBJECTED TO RANDOMIZED APPROVED PRESSURES (EXCEPT THE WATER BOARD), SUBJECT EXHIBITED INITIAL APPREHENSION FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE COMPLIANCE TO ALL VERBAL AND NONVERBAL COMMANDS FOR MOVEMENT. SUBJECT APPEARED GUARDED AND HYPERVIGILANT. DURING THE NIGHT HE WAS RESTLESS, AS EVIDENCED BY CONSTANT READJUSTING OF HIS POSITION. SUBJECT EMITTED PERIODIC SIGHS OF DISMAY. DURING HIS INTERACTION WITH THE INTERROGATORS, SUBJECT MAINTAINED A SUBMISSIVE, ATTENTIVE POSTURE; KEPT DIRECT EYE CONTACT; AND RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY TO ALL QUESTIONS AND DEMANDS. WHEN ACCUSED OF DECEIT, SUBJECT WAS ADAMANT IN HIS DENIALS. WHEN REVIEWING INFORMATION HE HAD PROVIDED DURING EARLIER INTERROGATIONS, THE DETAILS HE PROVIDED WERE CONSISTENT. SUBJECT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE TRYING TO USE THE LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES TO CONFUSE OR MISLEAD THE INTERROGATORS. HE SEEMED TO DISPLAY A DESPERATE RESIGNATION AT HIS INABILITY TO CONVINCE THE INTERROGATORS THAT HE WAS NOT HOLDING BACK INFORMATION. WHEN SUBJECT DID PROVIDE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS HE SPOKE RAPIDLY, PROVIDED EXPLANATIONS, AND STAYED ON TOPIC WITHOUT TRYING TO DIGRESS INTO IRRELEVANCIES. l

J WHEN THE INTERROGATORS TOLD HIM THAT HIS PROTESTS OF IGNORANCE REGARDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THREATS AGAINST THE U.S. WOULD NOT STOP THEM FROM USING THE WATER BOARD, SUBJECT'S EYE TEARED, HIS BREATHING INCREASED, AND HE APPEARED DESPERATE.

4. THREAT UPDATE: NO NEW THREAT INFORMATION.

5. MEDICAL UPDATE: OVER PAST TWENTY-FOUR HOURS, SUBJECT HAS SLIGHTLY INCREASED HIS NUTRITION AND WATER INTAKE. WOUND CONTINUES TO HAVE SOME BREAKDOWN AND IS WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT OR DETERIORATION. CLEANING AND DRESSING OF WOUND HAS OCCURRED TWICE SINCE LAST REPORT.



<' •.• .Al.y -

6. ADMIN NOTE: !TEAM MEMBER, SECURITY OFFICER TO RETURN TO HQS AS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED.

ITINERARY WILL FOLLOW SEPARATELY FROM

7. FILE:

CABLETYPE:

END OF MESSAGE

Salim v. Mitchell. United States Bates #002365 02/21 /2017


Date: 20020816

TO: ALEC

FROM:

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - SITREP ON ABU ZUBAYDAH AS OF L__ __________ 16 AUGUST 2002

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------TOR: 161757Z AUG 02 010631

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 B CR B 161755Z AUG 02 STAFF

CITE I 110631

TO: IMMEDIATE ALEC INFO DIRECTOR, '-------'

CTCc=JINFO CHIEF/CTC, CCPC OMSD OTS

FOR: CTC/LGL,

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - SITREP ON ABU ZUBAYDAH AS L__ ________ __,

'----__,I 16 AUGUST 2 002

REF: DIRECTOR 3970571 '---------'

TEXT:

1. ACTION REQUIRED: -- PLS SEE SEPARATE CABLE RE FULL DETAILS OF RESULTS OF 16 AUGUST CYCLE OF INTERROGATION SESSIONS.

PLS SEE PARA 2 AND RELAY PERTINENT INFO TO\ (

L__I -----



DEFER TO HQS TO REVIEW FOR DISSEM.

2. OVERALL STATE OF PLAY: DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD, ((ABU ZUBAYDAH)) (SUBJECT) HAS CONTINUED TO SAY HE KNOWS OF NO THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES OTHER THAN THOSE HE HAS ALREADY MENTIONED. ON 16 AUGUST 02 -- DAY 13 OF THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PHASE --1 ITEAM WELCOMED NEWLY ARRIVED HQS TEAM -- COBI I Dcos ALEC I bTc/LGLI IAND c/oTs TEAM DISCUSSED THE GENERAL OVERALL STRATEGY FOR THE CURRENT PHASE FACTORING IN HQS GUIDANCE. SUBSEQUENTLY, I jANDI IALONG WITH IC SERE PSYCHOLOGISTS HELD AN INTENSE FOUR HOUR SESSION WITH SUBJECT DURING WHICH SUBJECT WAS VERY ENGAGED AND PROVIDED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS POSED BY INTERROGATORS IN A STRAIGHT FORWARD MANNER. SUBJECT RESPONDED TO A VARIETY OF QUESTIONS WHICH DEALT WITH A RANGE OF TOPICS, MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN COVERED PREVIOUSLY. SUBJECT ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL DETAILS AS NOTED BELOW.



3. ATMOSPHERICS/BEHAVIORAL COMMENTS: DURING THIS PERIOD SUBJECT WAS COMPLIANT WITH ALL VERBAL AND NONVERBAL DIRECTIONS FOR MOVEMENT. DURING THE INTERROGATION SUBJECT WAS ATTENTIVE TO THE QUESTIONS POSED TO HIM AND APPEARED EARNEST IN HIS EFFORTS TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION REQUESTED. INITIALLY, HE APPEARED UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF A FEMALE INTERROGATOR, HOWEVER HE WAS RESPECTFUL AND SOON ADJUSTED TO HER PRESENCE. HE APPEARED TO TRY TO STAY ON TOPIC AND REQUESTED PERMISSION TO DIGRESS WHEN HE NEEDED TO PROVIDE BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO ADD CONTEXT TO HIS RESPONSES. THE SESSION LASTED APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS AND COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS. SUBJECT WAS, HOWEVER, ABLE TO STAY FOCUSED WITH MINIMAL PROMPTING FROM THE INTERROGATORS.

4. THREAT UPDATE: NO NEW THREAT INFORMATION.

5. MEDICAL UPDATE: SUBJECT NUTRITION/HYDRATION ADEQUATE PAST TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. TWO SMALL AREAS OF WOUND BREAKDOWN PERSIST WITHOUT CHANGE.

6. ADMIN NOTE: WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMIN OVERSIGHT AND BASE MANAGEMENT FOLLOWING DEPARTURE OF

7. FILE:

CABLETYPE:

END OF MESSAGE

Salim v. Mitchell - United States Bates #002368 . 02/21 /2017


Date: 20020817

TO: ALEC

FROM:

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - SITREP ON ABU ZUBAYDAH AS 2002

17 AUGUST

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------TOR: l7l6l2Z AUG 02

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------S E CR E r l7l609Z AUG 02 STAFF

CITE/ /10633


CTCc==JINFO CHIEF/CTC, I CTC/LGL,, oTsL_J'---___,

FOR:

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - SITREP ON ABU ZUBAYDAH AS 17 AUGUST 2002

REF: A. DIRECTOR 3970571 B.

TEXT:

l. ACTION REQUIRED: -- PLS SEE PARA TWO AND ADVISE STATUS OF A PREVIOUS REQUES'!'.)

LI _____________ THANKS.

-- ALSO, PLS SEE SEPARATE CABLE RE FULL DETAILS OF RESULTS OF 17 AUGUST CYCLE OF INTERROGATION SESSIONS.


... .... UNCLASSIFIED// FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

2. OVERALL STATE OF PLAY: DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD, ((ABU ZUBAYDAH)) (SUBJECT) HAS CONTINUED TO SAY HE KNOWS OF NO THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES OR AGAINST UNITED STATES INTERESTS BEYOND WHAT HE HAS ALREADY PROVIDED. ON 17 AUGUST 02 -- DAY 14 OF THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PHASE HELD A STRATEGY MEETING TO DECIDE ON THE TOPICS AND MODALITIES OF TODAY'S INTERROGATION SESSIONS FACTORING IN HQS GUIDANCE/REQUIREMENTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THREE INTERROGATION SESSIONS WERE HELD WITH SUBJECT. THE FIRST SESSION WAS HELD BY COB ._I ___ ___,

AND IC SERE PSYCHOLOGISTS AND FOCUSED LARGELY ON THE QUESTION OF SUBJECT'Sl ]

3. ATMOSPHERICS/BEHAVIORAL COMMENTS: DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD SUBJECT WAS CONVERSANT AND COOPERATIVE. HE COMPLIED WITH ALL VERBAL AND NONVERBAL DEMANDS WITHOUT HESITATION OR RESISTANCE. AS THE INTERROGATION BEGAN, SUBJECT TOLD THE INTERROGATORS THAT HE HAD RECALLED REQUESTED IN THE PREVIOUS DAY AND PROVIDED THEM. SUBJECT SPOKE WITH INTERROGATORS FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS. HE SPENT MOST OF THE INTERROGATION PERIOD STANDING ON ONE FOOT BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS KNEE PAIN. I I



DURING THIS TIME HE STAYED FOCUSED. HE REPEATEDLY ASSURED INTERROGATORS THAT HE WOULD NOT LIE OR LEAVE OUT IMPORTANT FACTS. SUBJECT DENIED KNOWING ANSWERS TO SEVERAL OF THE KEY QUESTIONS ASKED BY THE INTERROGATORS. HE APPEARED SINCERE IN THESE DENIALS AND APOLOGIZED FOR KNOW HAVING THE INFORMATION. WHEN THE INTERROGATORS ASKED SUBJECT TO WRITE DOWN! I

REMOVED THE PAPER AND FELT PEN PRIOR TO PROJECT COMPLETION, SUBJECT ASKED THE INTERROGATOR WHO HAD ENTERED THE CELL FOR A DIFFERENT REASON IF HE COULD FINISH. SUBJECT DISPLAYED NO DIFFICULTY INTERACTING WITH THE FEMALE INTERROGATOR.

4. THREAT UPDATE: AS NOTED ABOVE,' SUBJECT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY NEW THREAT INFORMATION CONCERNING OPERATIONS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OR UNITED STATES INTERESTS BEYOND WHAT HE HAS ALREADY PROVIDED. SUBJECT DID HOWEVER PROVIDE INFO ABOUT POSSIBLE TERRORIST OPERATIONS

BUT ABOUT WHICH SUBJECT NOTED HE DID NOT HAVE ANY SPECIFICS IN TERMS OF WHO, WHAT, WHERE AND WHEN. l

5. MEDICAL UPDATE: REDUCED AMOUNT OF YELLOWISH EXUDATE NOTED ON WOUND. BREAKDOWN OF EDGES PREVIOUSLY NOTED ARE RESOLVING. FLUID INTAKE/OUTPUT AND NUTRITIONAL INTAKE REMAIN CONSTANT.

6 . ADMIN NOTE:

7. FILE:

CABLETYPE:

END OF MESSAGE

I



• DATE: 18 AUG 02

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - DETAILS OF 17 AUGUST INTERROGATION OF ABU

TOR: 180802Z AUG 02

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------8-B Q R E .% 180758Z AUG 02

CITEI 110635

TO:

HANDLE VIA

FOR: CTC0--.:I:::N:.::F-=id-,.._ _____ __J

oTs{ I CTCD CTC/LGL,JL ___ __,

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - DETAILS OF 17 AUGUST INTERROGATION OF ABU ZUBAYDAH:

REF: A;._• ...1----.------'j4 2103 5 B.J 117928 C. DIRECTOR 3970571 02 1507626

._J ___ __,J 10632



'• TEXT:

1. ACTION REQUIRED: 1) DEFER TO ALEC FOR DISSEM OF PORTIONS OF BELOW IN INTEL FORMAT.

2. SUMMARY: DURING DAY 14 OF THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PHASE, ((ABU ZUBAYDAH)) (SUBJECT) PROVIDED NO NEW THREAT INFORMATION REGARDING PLANNED OR FUTURE TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST THE U.S. SUBJECT WAS INTERROGATED TWICE ON 17 AUGUST,

END OF SUMMARY. 3. ON 17 AUGUST, DAY 14 OF THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PHASE,

2002 coB I Dcos ALEcl I ACCOMPANIED BY IC SERE SPECIALISTS (INTERROGATORS), RESUMED INTERROGATION OF ABU ZUBAYDAH (SUBJECT) IN TWO SEPARATE SESSIONS

._____--'I INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LINK TO 9

THIS SESSION DID NOT SURFACE NEW THREAT INFORMATION, BUT SUBJECT'S RESPONSE DID STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT THE 9/11 ATTACKS








l,JNCLASSIFIED //FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

13. FOR THE RECORD, PICKING UP WHERE DETAILED 16 AUGUST REPORTING LEFT OFF, FOLLOWING ARE DETAILS OF SUBJECT'S ACTIVITY: AT

'-------'16 AUGUST, SUBJECT WAS PLACED IN THE LARGE BOX AFTER CLEANING/BANDAGING HIS WOUND. 17 AUGUST, SUBJECT WAS REMOVED FROM THE LARGE BOX AND SEATED ON THE FLOOR, HOODED, UNTIL

WEN HE WAS .MOVED TO THE SMALL BOX. AT SECURITY TEAM REMOVED SUBJECT FROM THE SMALL BOX AND HAD HIM STAND, HOODED, AGAINST THE WALLING WALL. AT\ \SUBJECT WAS MOVED IN TO THE LARGE BOX BY SECURITY TEAM, WHERE HE REMAINED UNTIL REMOVED BY SECURITY TEAM AND SEATED, HOODED, ON THE FLOOR. SUBJECT WAS MOVED FROM THE FLOOR TO THE LARGE BOX ATc.::==JHOURS BY SECURITY TEAM. AT

SECURITY TEAM WITH MEDICAL STAFF OPENED THE LARGE BOX; '--------' SUBJECT CLEANED HIS WOUND. SUBJECT WAS RETURNED TO THE LARGE BOX AT

THIS BEGAN THE NEW 24-HOUR PERIOD. SUBJECT WAS REMOVED FROM THE LARGE BOX AT I · 1. AND THE NEW INTERROGATION BEGAN AT

I !INTERROGATION SESSION WAS CONDUCTED ENTIRELY WITH SUBJECT AGAINST THE WALLING WALL WITH ROLLED TOWEL/NECK SUPPORT AROUND HIS NECK. IT WAS COMPLETED AT LJoURS, WHEN INTERROGATORS DEPARTED ROOM TO CONSULT WITH REMAINDER OF INTERROGATION TEAM. THE SECOND INTERROGATION SESSION BEGAN AGAIN WITH SUBJECT STANDING AGAINST THE WALLING WALL WITH ROLLED TOWEL/NECK SUPPORT AROUND HIS NECK. THIS WAS SEATED ON THE FLOOR

AT INTERROGATOR RETURNED TO L_ ___ _,----------'--...,

THE ROOM AND ASKED SEVERAL MORE QUESTIONS AS SUBJECT STOOD AGAINST THE WALL. INTERROGATOR DEPARTED


·• - \.


THE ROOM , SUBJECTREMAINED STANDING AGAINST THE WALL, HOODED. AT I I INTERROGATOR RETURNED TO THE ROOM TO CLARIFY A FEW OF SUBJECT'S COMMENTS WHEN INTERROGATOR DEPARTED SUBJECT WAS SEATED ON THE FLOOR, HOODED. SECURITY TEAM MOVED SUBJECT TO THE LARGE BOX; SECURITY TEAM DEPARTED THE ROOM

14. FILE:

CABLETYPE:

END OF MESSAGE


'\,.


Date: 20020819

TO: ALEC

FROM:

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - SITREP ON ABU ZUBAYDAH 2002

19 AUGUST

---------------------------------------- BODY ----------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------TOR: 191518Z AUG 02 010643

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 e R Ef""'i' 191515Z AUG 02 STAFF

CITE! 110643

TO: IMMEDIATE ALEC INFO DIRECTOR, '------

FOR: LIMITED DISSEM CTC INFO CHIEF /CTC, CTCc=J \.____ __ _, CTC/LGL, ,__ ________ __, OMSLJ OTSc=J

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - SITREP ON ABU ZUBAYDAH AUGUST 2002

REF: A.1 !106381 '-:-;::::===::::::__, B. DIRECTOR 3970571

TEXT:

1. ACTION REQUIRED: PLS SEE SEPARATE CABLE RE FULL DETAILS OF RESULTS OF 18 AUGUST CYCLE OF INTERROGATION SESSIONS.

2. OVERALL STATE OF PLAY: ON 19 AUGUST 02 -- DAY 16 OF THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PHASE -- BASE HELD A STRATEGY MEETING TO DECIDE ON THE TOPICS AND MODALITIES OF TODAY'S INTERROGATION SESSIONS WITH ((ABU ZUBAYDAH)) (SUBJECT) FACTORING IN HQS



GUIDANCE/REQUIREMENTS. [ AUGUST FOR A TWO-HOUR FOCUSED} SIGNIFICANT NEW INFORMATIONj

JoPENED FIRST SESSION ON MORNING OF 19 }DEBRIEFING THAT YIELDED

l

EACH TOPIC, THE FOCUS REMAINED ON FERRETING OUT INFORMATION ON OPERATIVES, PLANS, OR OPERATIONS CONNECTED TO THE UNITED STATES WHILE MOVING SYSTEMATICALLY TO OBTAIN AS MUCH INTELLIGENCE FROM HIM AS WE CAN.

THE THIRD SESSION OF THE DAY WAS FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON SUBJECT'S KNOWLEDGE OF IMMEDIATE THREAT INFORMATION TO THE U.S.; THIS SESSION INCLUDED TWO INTENSE AND COB OBSERVED THE PROCEDURE · jTEAM MONITORING THE VIDEO.

COMMENT: SUBJECT WAS PREPARED FOR APPLICATION OF THE WATERBOARD BY REPEATED AND AGGRESSIVE QUESTIONING ON THE ISSUE OF FUTURE ATTACKS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES, AS WELL AS HIS KNOWLEDGE OF OPERATIVES TASKED TO COMMIT ATTACKS IN THE U.S. AND WORLDWIDE AGAINST DESIGNATED AQ TARGETS. SUBJECT STATED HE HAD NO NEW OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO PROVIDE, AT WHICH TIME THE INTERROGATION TEAM BROUGHT IN THE WATERBOARD, AND INSTRUCTED SUBJECT TO BE SEATED. WHILE QUESTIONING CONTINUED, SUBJECT WAS REPEATEDLY PRESSED AND INSTRUCTED THAT REVEALING THE REQUESTED INFORMATION WOULD STOP THE PROCEDURE. SUBJECT AGAIN STATED HE HAD NO INFORMATION IN ADDITION TO THAT WHICH HE HAS ALREADY PROVIDED, AND ALTERNATIVELY BEGGED AND CRIED THAT PROCEDURE BE STOPPED. SUBJECT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY STRAPPED ONTO THE BOARD, AND AGAIN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE RESPONSIVE. WATER WAS APPLIED WITH A SOAKED, FULL FACE COVERING, RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE FLUID INTAKE AND INVOLUNTARY BODY (LEG, CHEST AND ARM) SPASMS. SUBJECT WAS IMMEDIATELY ELEVATED AND HIS AIRWAY WAS CLEARED. AGAIN THE INTERROGATION TEAM GRILLED SUBJECT ON THE ISSUE OF OPERATIONS AND THE IDENTITIES OF PEOPLE INVOLVED. SUBJECT CONTINUED TO CRY, AND CLAIM IGNORANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THIS RESULTED IN A SECOND FULL-FACE WATERING. AT THE ONSET OF INVOLUNTARY STOMACH AND LEG SPASMS, SUBJECT WAS AGAIN ELEVATED TO CLEAR HIS AIRWAY, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY HYSTERICAL PLEAS. SUBJECT WAS DISTRESSED TO THE LEVEL THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO EFFECTIEVELY COMMUNICATE OR ADEQUATELY ENGAGE THE TEAM. AS A RESULT, HE WAS UNSTRAPPED AND PLACED IN THE LARGE BOX UNTIL SEDATE. "WHITE NOISE" WAS REAPPLIED TO CONTNIUE SUBJECTS ELEVATED LEVEL OF DISORIENTATION. NOTE: I \MEDICAL STAFF WAS PREPPED FOR IMMEDIATE INTERCESSION IF NECESSARY.

4. THREAT UPDATE: NO NEW THREAT INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY SUBJECT.

5. MEDICAL UPDATE: DECREASED AMOUNT OF YELLOWISH EXUDATE CONTINUES TO BE NOTED ON WOUND. BREAKDOWNS ALONG MARGIN OF WOUND ARE


·-·· ... . UNCLASSIFIED// FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

• IMPROVED IN APPEARANCE. SUBJECT'S NUTRITIONAL STATUS REMAINS CONSTANT AS DOES FLUIDS INTAKE AND OUTPUT.

6 . ADMIN NOTE:

7. FILE:

CABLETYPE:

END OF MESSAGE



\ ......

Date: 20020823

TO: ALEC

FROM:

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - STATUS OF THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PHASE; TRANSITION INTO MAINTENANCE AND LONG TERM DEBRIEFING

TOR: 231206Z AUG 02 010667 ---------,-----------------------------------------------------------------------8 E C R E T 231130Z AUG 02 STAFF

To: ALEC INFo._I DIRECTOR.

cTcQ INFO CHIEF/CTC, cTcc=Jb .__ ________ __.I' OTS FOR: ICTC/LGL,

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - STATUS OF THE AGGRESSIVE INTERROGATION PHASE; TRANSITION INTO MAINTENANCE AND LONG TERM DEBRIEFING

REF: .___ _ __,j10644 l._ ___ 1

TEXT:

1. ACTION REQUIRED: FOR HQS REVIEW. SEE PARA (4) BELOW.

2. / STATUS: AS OF 23 AUGUST, AN FOLLOWING 19 DAYS IN THE AGGRESSIVE PHASE OF INTERROGATION, I ITEAM ASSESSMENT IS THAT WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BROKEN SUBJECT'S WILLINGNESS TO WITHHOLD THREAT AND INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION. HE IS PRESENTLY IN A STATE OF COMPLETE SUBJUGATION AND TOTAL COMPLIANCE. WE COLLECTIVELY HAVE REVIEWED ALL AVAILABLE INTELLIGENCE REQUIREMENTS,



........ AND THUS FAR HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED ANY SPECIFIC/SPECIFIC ISSUES UPON WHICH WE CAN DEFINITIVELY ASSESS THAT HE IS PURPOSEFULLY OR ACTIVELY HOLDING BACK OR NOT COOPERATING. INTERROGATION TEAM ASSESSES THAT SUBJECT HAS NO THREAT INFORMATION NOT ALREADY PROVIDED. COB NOTE: THE ISSUE OF WHETHER SUBJECT IN FACT HAS SPECIFIC THREAT INFORMATION (NOT ALREADY PROVIDED) WILL ALWAYS BE OPEN TO SOME CONJECTURE. THE AGGRESSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE NATURE OF PROGRAM ALREADY CONDUCTED FOR THE LAST 19 DAYS HAS PROVIDED I lwITH A VERY HIGH DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE THAT SUBJECT HAS REVEALED (AND WILL C THREAT DATA, OR IS PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN A CURRENT OPERATION HE HAS NOT YET REVEALED, OUR ASSESSMENT WOULD OBVIOUSLY CHANGE. AT THAT TIME, WE WOULD NEED TO ADDRESS THE EMPLOYMENT OF ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES.

3 . OPERATIONS AT [ l AS WE MOVE TO EXPLOITING SUBJE\CT IN HIS CURRENT COMPLIANT STATE, l ]BELIEVES THE FOLLOWINGl J CHANGES WILL BE POSSIBLE l

J



_, \. \.'-• ... • ....

NOTE: THE CURRENT INTERROGATOR TEAM - AS PRESENTLY CONFIGURED WITH BOTH OFFICERS WORKING ON SUBJECT CONCURRENTLY - IS NO LONGER REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCY. ONE HVTI IC NEEDS TO DEPART FOR PERSONAL REASONSL_ ______ ___ ..L,

HAS A PRIOR PROFESSIONAL. COMMITMENT'-------------------' BOTH ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING LONG TERM SUPPORT AS NEEDED TO THIS MISSION,[

J OBVIOUSLY, BOTH IC'S ARE AVAILABLE - NOTWITHSTANDING '----------'

COMMITMENTS - IF INFORMATION IS DEVELOPED THAT REQUIRES US TO REVISIT A SECOND AGGRESSIVE PHASE OF INTERROGATION.

5.

CABLETYPE:

END OF MESSAGE


... ···• UNCLASSIFIED// FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

.

TO:

FROM:

SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - STATUS OF THE INTERROGATIONS

TOT: 261751Z AUG 02 ALEC 185413 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------STAFF 261751Z ALEC 185413 TO: IMMEDIATE!'-___ IINFO IMMEDIATE

HANDLE VIA HUMINT CHANNELS ONLY

_F_R_OM_: CHIEF/CTC, CTCn c==J CTC/LGL,

\ ]OMsl_J oTsCJ


REF: __

TEXT:

1. ACTION REQUIRED: NONE, SEE BELOW. 2. MANY THANKS FOR REF INSIGHT AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND

PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT WE ARE CAREFULLY CONSIDERING REF FOR ALL FUTURE ACTION. WHILE I I TEAM Is ASSESSMENT REGARDING THE STATUS OF ABU ZUBAYDAH'S PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL REACTIONS AND ABILITY TO RESIST CARRIES GREAT WEIGHT, A BODY OF INTELLIGENCE REPORTING GOING BACK FOR MANY YEARS ABOUT HIS DIRECT, HIGH-LEVEL INVOLVEMENT IN SUPPORT TO PLANNED ATTACKS ARGUES FOR CONTINUED CAUTION IN JUDGING WHAT HE KNOWS AND WHAT HE DOES NOT. WE ARE NOT


.. ... ,,.


....... CONVINCED THAT WE CAN YET DETERMINE THAT AZ IS NO LONGER PURPOSEFULLY OR ACTIVELY HOLDING BACK (INFORMATION} OR NOT COOPERATING, EVEN ON THE REQUIREMENTS ALREADY SERVICED. ALSO, WE BELIEVE WE CAN NOT YET SAY THAT AZ HAS NO THREAT INFORMATION NOT ALREADY PROVIDED. WE MUST ALSO COLLECTIVELY ACCEPT THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO DEFINITIVELY STATE AZ HAS PROVIDED ALL THE INFORMATION HE KNOWS, REGARDLESS OF HOW COMPLIANT HE APPEARS TO BE.

3. J jHAs DONE AN INCREDIBLE -- AND UNPRECEDENTED -- JOB PULLING INFORMATION OUT OF AZ IN THE CURRENT PHASE. A FULL EVALUATION OF HIS WIDE-RANGING, DETAILED STATEMENTS WILL REQUIRE CAREFUL ANALYSIS BY EXPERTS ON HIS PAST ACTIVITIES TO COMPARE THIS NEW INFORMATION AGAINST WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THESE SUBJECTS AND AGAINST WHAT OTHER SOURCES/DETAINEES HAVE TOLD US ABOUT AZ'S RELATIONSHIP (IF ANY) TO THESE SUBJECTS. I HAS BEEN COMING IN FAR TOO QUICKLY FOR HQS TO KEEP UP AND IT WILL TAKE SOME T!ME BEFORE WE ARE COMFORTABLE THAT AZ HAS PROVIDED ALL HE KNOWS. ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE THAT MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION IS NEW OR ACCURATE. l

[ J

4. AGAIN, IT IS OUR ASSESSMENT THAT AZ RESISTS MAINLY THROUGH LIES OF OMISSION. WHAT HE GIVES IS PROBABLY FAIRLY ACCURATE, AND A PRELIMINARY LOOK INDICATES MUCH (BUT NOT ALL} OF IT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT HE HAS PROVIDED PREVIOUSLY. HOWEVER, WHEN COMPARED AGAINST THE BODY OF INFORMATION ABOUT AZ'S ROLE (AS HAS BEEN DETAILED IN PAST TRAFFIC), HIS INFORMATION MAY BE LACKING, AND THEN WE SUSPECT HE IS LYING BY OMISSION. WE CAN NOT PROVE A NEGATIVE; WE CAN NOT PROVE HE HAS SPECIFIC INFORMATION, BUT IF THE EVIDENCE FROM VARIOUS OTHER SOURCES CONSISTENTLY INDICATES THAT HE IS NOT TELLING US ALL, THEN THE ASSERTION THAT HE IS HAS FULLY PROVIDED ALL INFORMATION IS PREMATURE. HE MAY BE COMPLIANT CONCERNING THE QUESTIONS ASKED, BUT MORE REMAINS.

S. BE ASSURED WE ARE WORKING ON THIS AS QUICKLY AS THE WORKLOAD ALLOWS; HOWEVER, A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF HIS INFORMATION IS A GARGANTUAN TASK AND ONE THAT TAKES TIME. THEREFORE, WE REQUEST YOUR PATIENCE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.

6. FILE: [ J



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END OF MESSAGE SECREl1'



·-· .. Date: 20020828

TO: ALEC

FROM:


r-----------L_ ______________ T_O_R_:_2_8_0_82_0_Z_A_U_G_0_2 __

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------BE C E T 280817Z AUG 02 STAFF

CI.TEI L ----'I 10700

TO:

FOR:

IMMEDIATE ALEC INFO IMMEDIATE

CTcr==JINFO CHIEF/CTC, cTcc:::::=J CTc/LGL, [


REF: A. ALEC 185413 l"J--

B. 110667 I

TEXT:

l. ACTION REQUIRED: PLEASE NOTE PARA 7 AND WELCOME COMMENTS.

2. APPRECIATE ALEC'S ASSESSMENT IN REF (A) THAT ABU ZUBAYDAH HAS NOT TOLD US ALL THAT HE KNOWS, EVEN ON THE REQUIREMENTS ALREADY COVERED. WE LOOK FORWARD TO RESULTS OF ALEC/HQS ANALYSIS OF THE TAKE SO FAR IN AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE WE ARE CONFIDENT--BASED ON ACTUAL OTHER REPORTING--THAT HE IS LYING OR HOLDING BACK.

3. DURING THE AGGRESSIVE PHASE OF THE INTERROGATION, COB AND



"-' DCOS ALEC QUESTIONED SUBJECT AFTER HE HAD BEEN CONDITIONED AND DEEMED COMPLIANT AFTER 12 DAYS OF INTENSIVE WALLING AND WATERBOARDING, USE OF SMALL BOX, AND OTHER AGGRESSIVE TECHNIQUES. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO TEST THIS COMPLIANCE BY BROADENING THE SCOPE OF QUESTIONING AND PRESSING HIM ON PREVIOUS UNANSWERED ISSUES.

4. WHILE WE HAVE NO PRETENSE THAT THIS IS THE SUM TOTAL OF WHAT AZ KNOWS, BELIEVE WE ARE MAKING A DENT IN THAT KNOWLEDGE. c-------i

5. OF COURSE, BASED ON HIS DIRECT ACCESS TO THOSE PLANNERS, WE CORRECTLY ASSUMED HE WOULD HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF OPERATIONAL PLANNING AND HE DOES, INDEED, HAVE THIS KNOWLEDGE. HE ADMITS THIS EVEN FOR 9/11,

BUT HE STILL INSISTS THAT HE HAS N KNOWLEDGE OF THE BIG FOLLOW-ON ATTACK INTENDED FOR AFTER 9/11.

--IS HE LYING OR WITHHOLDING? POSSIBLE, BUT WE BELIEVE UNLIKELY GIVEN THE INTENSIVE PHSYICAL AND MENTAL PRESSURES USED.

--IS HIS ANSWER PLAUSIBLE AND CONSISTENT WITH THE AVAILABLE INTELLIGENCE? YES.

--MOST IMPORTANTLY, ARE WE'SATISFIED WE HAVE



.... APPLIED THE TECHNIQUES AGGRESSIVELY AND CONDITIONED SUBJECT TO THE POINT THAT WE CAN ASSESS HE IS COMPLIANT? YES.

--OUR BOTTOM LINE rs THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW. WE CAN ONLY OPERATE ON WHAT WE DO KNOW, AND THAT INTELLIGENCE SO FAR IS CONSISTENT WITH AZ'S STORY.

6. AT THIS POINT, WE SHARE THE GOAL OF BOTH ALEC AND HQS TO IDENTIFY SOMETHING CONCRETE THAT WE CAN USE TO CONFRONT HIM IN A LIE OR A SIGNIFICANT OMISSION. IF WE SUCCEED, BASE WILL RETURN TO THE AGGRESSIVE PHASE TOOLS AND USE EVERY AVAILABLE TECHNIQUE ALLOWED US. ABSENT THAT SCENARIO, HOWEVER, WE PLAN TO CONTINUE THE STRATEGY AS LAID OUT IN REF (B) TO SYSTEMATICALLY DRAIN HIM DRY OF ANY USEFUL INTELLIGENCE. FOR THAT, WE WILL CAREFULLY CONTINUE TO OBSERVE HIM TO ENSURE HE REMAINS "COMPLIANT" AND IC PSYCHOLOGISTS WILL STAND BY TO "TUNE HIM UP" AS REQUIRED. IT IS OUR ASSESSMENT THAT IF WE PROCEED AGAIN TO THE WATERBOARD, ON A GENERAL THREAT QUESTION WITH NOTHING CONCRETE TO FOCUS ON, WE WILL RISK LOSING EVEN MINIMAL COOPERATION AFTERWARDS. IF AZ BELIEVES HE CANNOT AVOID THE WATERBOARD NO MATTER WHAT HE SAYS, PSYCOLOGISTS BELIEVE IT LIKELY HE MAY SIMPLY MOVE INTO A STATE WHERE WE COME CLOSE TO THE THRESHHOLDS ESTABLISHED BY CTC/LGL. OF COURSE, IF WE DO DEVELOP INFORMATION THAT HE IS LYING, THEN WE BELIEVE IT'S WELL WORTH THE RISK TO PRESS HIM HARD TO GET THAT ONE NUGGET:

7. SHOULD OUR REVIEW OF AZ'S REPORTING TURN UP INDICATIONS OF SUBSTANTIVE LIES AND/OR WITHHOLDING,1 j

J IF BASE AND HQS COLLECTIVELY ASSESS THAT WE HAVE NOT YET GOT THE BOTTOM LINE ON AZ'S THREAT INFO, AND WE REMAIN CONVINCED THE WATERBOARD APPLIED ONLY TO AZ IS UNLIKELY TO PRODUCE RESULTS THAT DIFFER FROM WHAT WE HAVE NOW, I I AT PRESENT, OUR ASSESSMENT REMAINS THAT IF AZ DOES HAVE THAT NUGGET, HE'LL TAKE IT WITH HIM IF ONLY FACED WITH THE WATERBOARD.

8. FILE:

CABLETYPE:

END OF MESSAGE



Subject: . Re: Jim and Srucefi)

Rrst, it Is conventional navy pilots that experience the water-board. not special ops folks. We don't know · how ops folks react. Second, Bruce and I bof!i make a good living head nodding; so, don't

feel unproductive. · · .

c::::J;hould be back In your.location your location soon and can the matter in detail. But, please hear that .to the water-board in SERE training is.a one time exposure so they have a rel!!listio notion of how severe the pressure oould be. We don't know what students would do on multiple exposures because the Navy doesn't expose them more than once. It is not/not intended to test their ultimate resolve on the water-board. Also, in a school house setting where the collective myth {the·rumor on the street) is that students break quickly, the sltuatlonal demands would be different than In a settiog where a

.. fighter felt there was a cause worth dying for (remember the Ashe (sp?) studies). ,We don't know what · Navy students would do in a real world situation.

As for our buddy; he capitulated the frist time. Wg ch9se to expose him over and over unlll ml bad a high of confidence he wouldn't hold back. He said we was ready to talk during the first exposure.

As tor helping, rm sure there will be plenty for you to do. Right now, read Torture and .It's Consequences (especially the chapters that deal with paylovian conditioned neurosis).

Hey thete: · · . . : ·1 wanted to Uf!d oi,.tt more about the conference -at Ft. Bragg that you mentioned ___ _.

. Also, I wanted to knoll'( if you had any thoughts on what my role should be in assisting the intenogation branch. I guess I'm on /Oan for a few months1 but would like to be a bit morf!! productive than just nOdding m.Y. head. I any input. or nove! research ideas.

A/So given your recent experience, I wanted to get .your opinion regarding how culture plays. into the lnterrogalio11 process. (this question Is coming up) In your, al·Q paper, you suggested that culture was factoted out for the most part. I.have been with the fact that AZ needed numerous waterboard administrations to become helpless while the special ops guys needed just one. fs it that some of the

· terrorists have a higher threshold for pain/inconveniences and because they are acclimated to harsher conditions for longer period.s? Also, can 'someone' bu(ld ·up a psychalogicaVphysiologfcaf resistance to the

. WB administered repeatedly, thus reducing or eliminating its effectiveness av.er time?·

Other than you guys wimping out on the waterboa'rri. I knowl Yhought the trip was incredibly interesting and useful (although shacking up withF'ihe first night was the most memorable part! {hey nowt)). I guess a helpless attorney would not a goOiJ thing. .

Salim v. Mitchell - United States Bates #002581 Re-Processed: April 12, 2017

Talk to you later.

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SBCRilll'


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UNCLASSIFIED// FOR PUBLIC RELEASE -·. -· -

INITIAL DRAFT PLAN John B.'Jessen, Ph.D.

James E. Mitchell, Ph.D.

Marcb 16, 2002

Assumes. I Subject: . - Highest priority for elidting of information and - Po:tentiaUy · - Non English speaking . - No· physical or mental disabilities· or 1in:iited restrictions based on

· known condition - Restrained constantly - Medically screened for communicable disease· - Hostile.to interrogatiort/Uncooperative

.Broad Strategy:· Build and Execute an: lndivi'duauy· Tailored Interrogation Plan

-Isolate -Assess . - Build interrogatfon plan based on subject's temperament,' mindset, physical conditi9n, :and resistance posture. - Exe.cute plan

. . Operational Team. Composition: priority of operation for complete latitude in planning; Assumes 24 hour operations)

OOperational Psychologists with Resistance to Interrogation 'Expertise {R to I SMEs). .flmterrogators

- 1 Physician - Guards

Cornm1:1Ili.cationNid¢o: - l Ad.min Technician - 1 Logistics/Facility Technician·

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.Facility Requirements: (Assumes priority of opei:ation allows for complete latitude in plarming) ·

· Sali111 v .. fvlityl 1ell - U11ited Otates Bates #992'f99

06/09/2017

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R to I SMEs and forward placed team have· secure communication ability during transportation ·

- . Elimination of top down pressure to compress time required to successfully the operati<?n (This' could range from days to

··weeks)

Roles and Responsibilities: Operational Psychologist/R to I SMEs:

Direct interrogation team operation . - Alternate as mission oversight.and interrogation leads - Conduct team shift briefs - Build, monitor ·and adapt interrogation countermeasures and

elicitation pl;;ms · · · Instruct interrogators. on implementation of interrogation plan ·

- Conduct daily mission briefs with an4 submit daily SITREP's for command authority with the assistance of team

Interrogators: · Interrogate subject based on interrogation plan Make .to R to I SMEs and guard staff for interrogation and elicitation Compile interrogation .

Interpreters: Interpret all dialog between interrogators .and' subject as well as guard staff and physician as necessary · Restrict all dialog with subject to official business Remain neutral in regard 'to the subject ·

Physician: . . Provide medical consultation the R to I S!ylEs Provide care to team as necessary

- Maintain subject in "good according to ROEts and the if terrogation plan ·

Gu'1j1'ds: - ljrovide security for the subject ap.d team

the subject to and from Accompany the subject in necessary hygiene care.

neutral in regard to the · instructed

Co:qnnumcation/V1deo - . Acquire, transport, install and maintain all required communication

and video monitoring equipment

.. ·

Salim v. Mitchell - United States Bates #002710

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••


Assist with team requirements as instructed Administrative/ Computer Teclmician: . - Acquire, transport, install, and maintain all computer. equipment

• "I Provide administrative support to the team as required includir}g · information transfer,. correspondence editing·and preparation,

maintenance of all official records . Facility/Logistic Technician:

Acquire, install, maintain, and modify all facility furnishings as reouired ·

"

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v. - United States Bates #002711

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CITBJ ,_ __ __.l1os68

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SLUGS: I Su.e.JBC'l' __ !' __ -=11-sx-·1-· ABO ZtlBAYJWI llft'BRROGATIOHS

lUUi': A. DIRBCTOR B. I 11056'1 c._ _73208 D. DIRBC'l'OR 375769k-.-r-----'-i B. ALBC 182613 j 'B'.1 . 110553

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2. DJ RBSPONSB 'l'O RBP A, IT IS RBCClMMBlam.'l'ION THA'l' HQS J:>BCIDB '1'0 AWAIT A J!'IRAL DBCISION Olll USS OP 'l"JIB •11ATBIU10ARD• 'fBCBRIQUB PRIOR '1'0 IMPLBMBNTATIOJf OP '1'HB .IOORBSSIVB PHASB. AS STATBD Ill PRBVJ:OUS TRAl'll'IC, OUR URDBRSTAHDINQ 01' 'l'JIB OIJBC'l'IVB or '1'HB .IGGRBSSJ:VB PHASB OP IN'l'BRR.OCaTIOlll IS 'l'O ACHIBVB A HIGH DBSRBB OP CONPIJ:>BRCB 'l'HA'l' ( (ABU ZOBAYDAH) ) (SCBJBCT) IS HO'l' HOLDING BACK AC'l'IORULB Dm>JUm'l'IOlf COllfCBIOIING 'l'llREATS AGAINS'l' THB 'DRITBD STA'l'BS. TO ACRIBVB THIS. HIGH LBVBL OP CONJ!'IDBNCB, '1'HB USB or JUf ABSOLU'l'BLY C0BVINCmG 'l'BCHllf.[QD.B IS RBQOIRBD. AHYTHING LBSS WOULD LBAVB OPBR THB POSSIBILl:'l'Y 'l'HAT SUBJBCT IS WITHHOLDING CRITICAL Ilftl'OJUmTIOlf. IN OUR BBST iJlJDGMBN'1', '1'HB MBASURBS APPROVED, WHILE DCBSSARY 1 ARB NOT

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SOl'PICIBR'l' TO ACHIBVB 'l'HB RBQOIRBD BIGB CORPIDINCB LBVBL. IF OtJR. mmBRS'l'ARDDIG 01' ALBC/HQS XR'1'BN'1' IS· CORRBCT, RBOOMMllRD NM/NCR CDIMBlllCIBG '1'BB RA'l'CHB'l'DIG OP OP PRBSSORBS UH'l'IL THB WATBRBOARD APPJIOVAL ISSUB IS RBSOLVBD,

3. lfHILB 1IB CUROT SCRIPT 'l'HB PLAY-BY-PLAY or '1'HB RBJt'1' PHASB 011' Illl'lBRR.OOA'l'IOHS, 1fB DO HO'l'B 'l'HA"l' tJSB OP '1'RB 'llA'l'BRBOMD 1I01JLD LIKBLY BB BMPLOYBD 1II'l'HIB 8-12 KOORS OP BBGDllf.mQ THB AOmlBSSIVB PHASB OP Ill'rBRllOGATIOHS PHASB. "l'HBRBPORB, APPROVAL OP TRIS 'l'OOL IS NBCBSSlRY IH ORDBR TO BPPBCT:tVBLY BMPLOY '1'HB O"l'HBR I'l'BMS ALRBADY APPROVBD DI RBI' A. IH O'l'HBR WORDS, WITHOUT "l'RB WATBRBOJ\RD, '1'HB ALRBADY APPROVBD PRBSStJRBS WOULD CONS'l'I'l'tJ'1'B A 50 PIRCD'l' SOLO'l'ION ARD TRBIR Bl'l'BC'l'XVBlllB 1fODLD DISSIPATB PROGRBSSIVBLY OVBR TIMB AS Soa.JBC'l' PIGORBS OUT 'l'BA'I' KB 'llILL NOT BB PHYSICALLY BBA'l'BR ARD AS HB ADJUl'l'S TO CDMPBD CORPINBMBll'l'. II' 1fB tJSB THB8B TBCHNIQtJBS ALOHB 1IB MAY :ROT BB ABLB '1'0 APPLY DOUGH l'ORCB 'l'O Ml\EB "l'HBM ABSOLO'TBLY COHYlR'CI1l1G. II!' 1fB USB '1'HB APPROVBD PRBSSURBS, SUBJ.BC'l' ADAPTS 'l'O 'l'HBM AND '1'llBN ALBC/HQS LA'l'BR APPROVBS 'l'HB WA'l'BRBOUD TBCHHIQUB, 'l'RB INI'l'IAL BPPBC'l'IVBRISS OP '1'HB APPROVBD PRBSSDRBS HAS BBBN OOMPROMISBD. (IC SBRB PSYCHOLOGJ:STS) WOtJLD "1'HBR HA.VB '1'0 USB THB APPROVBD PRBSSORBS BV1N MORB Ilfl'BllfSBLY 'l'O OVBRCOMB SOBJBC'l' 1 S BXPANDBD CONJ!'IDBHCB "l'HA'l' KB CAN HOLD OU'l'.

4i • '1'llB WA'l'BRBOARD 'rBCBRIQUB RBMAINS THB IC SBRB J!ISYCROLOGIS'l'S' RBCCMMBHDBD, ABSOLUTBLY cmVIBCIRG TICllRZQUB FOR TRB AGGRBSSZVB PHASB. IP l'l' IS DISAPPROVBD, HOtfBVBR, RBCOMMBND RBLOOKIHG A'l' THB DTBRIOtD.'l'IOlil PLIR AS CORRBlll'l'LY BRVISI<>mm RATHBR TRAN DBRCISB A 50, PBRCBlll'l' SOL'IJ'l'IOB. WOULD WBLCCMB ALBC/HQS COIOllDr.l'S/GDIDAHCB RB ABOVB SUOOBSTBD COtJRSB OP.ACTION.

5 • SBP.ARA'l'BLY I AS PRBSBR'.rBD IN RBI!' p I CRJ:TICAL '1'0 '1'HB 111BX'1', INTBRRCXa'l'l:OB PBASB A1l1D DIRBC'l'LY RBLATBD 'l'O SBCORITY STAPP BRIBPIHGS ARB ALBC/HQS COlelBR'l'S/CONCDRRBRCB OB THB DI LARGB CO!IPIDMBlfi' BOX/DRBSSIRG CHANGE PROTOCOLS, 'lfHICH RBBD 'l'O BB PROPERLY RBHBARSBD. RBP D ADVISED '1'SAT RBI' F RBQDBS'l' WOULD BB ADDRBSSBD DI SBPAD.TB MBSSAGB. WOULD APPRBCIATB RBCBIP'l' OP CONCURRBRCB 'l'O RBP Ji' SUGGBS!'BD ADJDS'l'MD'l'S TO 'l'RB PRO'l'OCOL Ilt PRBPARATION FOR '1'HB RD'l' Ilml:RROCaTION PRASB. RB<aRDS.

mm 011' MBSSAGB.

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UNCLASSIFIED //FOR PUBLIC RELEASE . .

n1111&1n.nu..i...i..l.llo"'""""" .. w.-.•ii...•w,1w......,1,.:"',...._...n ............ .r .. ,,,.,•M•"'1'.;i1 .... , ..... ,,.,_.._ ..... , ... .... ,, , ... ·-! •.•. _

·Reference:

SEORBT//Xl

To: cc:'---------'

Subject: EYES ONLY - fyl

Original Text of Multiple Forwarded Documents: Original Text of MuUiple Forwarded Documents:

TO: FROM: OFRCE: DATE: 01LJ200307:32:10PM SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - Request for feedback

Thanks for the help. At times it can seem like everyone is taking "pot shotsw at you and you don't have a friend in court. It is nice to know you are there, know the score, and are workfng for the same·goal's.

Regards,

,__ _ ___,!Jessen

CC:.

''.sent on []Januaty 2003 at 07:32:10 PM

SBGM'!'//Xl

Salim·v. Mitchell - United States Bates #002712

06/09/2017

1 /. f; f

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UNCLASSIFIED // FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

SECRBT//Xl

TO:· 6 . FROM:· _ __. OFFICE:TCILGLj I DATE: 0102003 05:10:49 PM SUBJECT:'fiRe: EYES ONLY.:. Mitchell _.,....

No problem .,.. /spoke w1thc=lvestetday and mentioned to him that when we went up to speak with the General pounsel last week, and he mentioned how much the senior leadership knows and appreciates what you and he are doing, he SftJcerely meant that. Despite speed bumps now and.then at the working level, the senior management from the Director on down knows specifically of the two of you (at least.as the H/C SERI: psychologists,• and sometimes by and they specifically want to have the

. two of you Involved In the process. Don't let remoteness or the occasional glitches you down •• the critical audience in this building greatly appreciates what you are doing, and values your. work highly. ' ' ' .

Cheers -c=J · CC:

Sent on[Jtanuary 2003 ·at 05:10:49 PM

'SEORH//X1

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