The torture papers: the road to Abu Ghraib

1285 Pages·2005·26.78 MB·English

by  Karen J. Greenberg

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THE TORTURE PAPERS
TheTorturePapersconsistsoftheso-called“torturememos”andreportsthattheU.S.gov-
ernmentofficialswrotetoauthorizeandtodocumentcoerciveinterrogationandtorture
inAfghanistan,Guanta´namo,andAbuGhraib.Thisvolumeofdocumentspresentsforthe
firsttimeacompilationofmaterialsthatpriortopublicationhaveexistedonlypiecemeal
in the public domain. The Bush Administration, concerned about the legality of harsh
interrogationtechniques,understoodthedesirabilityofestablishingalegallyviableargu-
ment to justify such procedures. The memos and reports in this volume document the
systematicattemptoftheU.S.governmenttoauthorizethewayfortorturetechniquesand
coercive interrogation practices, forbidden under international law, with the concurrent
expressintentofevadingliabilityintheaftermathofanydiscoveryofthesepracticesand
policies.
KarenJ.GreenbergistheExecutiveDirectoroftheCenteronLawandSecurityattheNew
YorkUniversitySchoolofLaw,andeditoroftheNYUReviewofLaw&Security.
Joshua L. Dratel is President of the New York State Association of Criminal Defense
Lawyers and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Criminal
Defense Lawyers and is lead defense counsel for David Hicks, an Australian detainee at
Guanta´namo.

The Torture Papers
THE ROAD TO ABU GHRAIB
Edited by
Karen J. Greenberg
Joshua L. Dratel
Introduction by Anthony Lewis
cambridge university press
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Cambridge University Press
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Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York
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© Karen J. Greenberg and Joshua L. Dratel 2005
This book is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provision of
relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place
without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published in print format 2005
isbn-13 978-0-511-10995-9 eBook (NetLibrary)
isbn-10 0-511-10995-4 eBook (NetLibrary)
isbn-13 978-0-521-85324-8 hardback
isbn-10 0-521-85324-9 hardback
Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of
urls for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this book, and does not
guaranteethatanycontentonsuchwebsitesis,orwillremain,accurateorappropriate.
Edited and compiled by
Karen J. Greenberg
JoshuaL.Dratel,P.C.
With special thanks to the entire staff of The Center on Law and Security.
Any views expressed in the introductory matter in this volume are solely those of the
authorsanddonotreflecttheviewsoropinionsofanyinstitutionororganization.
Contents
Acknowledgments pagexi
Introduction:AnthonyLewis xiii
FromFeartoTorture:KarenJ.Greenberg xvii
TheLegalNarrative:JoshuaL.Dratel xxi
Timeline xxv
MissingDocuments xxix
BiographicalSketches xxxi
Memoranda
Memo1. September25,2001
To: TimothyFlanigan,DeputyCounseltothePresident
From: JohnYoo,DeputyAssistantAttorneyGeneral,U.S.Departmentof
Justice,OfficeofLegalCounsel
Re: MemorandumOpinionfortheDeputyCounseltothePresident 3
Memo2. November13,2001
MilitaryOrderofNovember13,2001issuedbyPresidentGeorge
W.Bush 25
Memo3. December28,2001
To: WilliamJ.HaynesII,GeneralCounsel,DepartmentofDefense
From: PatrickF.Philbin,DeputyAssistantAttorneyGeneralandJohnYoo,
DeputyAssistantAttorneyGeneral,U.S.DepartmentofJustice,Office
ofLegalCounsel
Re: PossibleHabeasJurisdictionoverAliensHeldinGuanta´namoBay,
Cuba 29
Memo4. January9,2002
To: WilliamJ.HaynesII,GeneralCounsel,DepartmentofDefense
From: JohnYoo,DeputyAssistantAttorneyGeneral,U.S.Departmentof
Justice,OfficeofLegalCounselandRobertJ.Delahunty,Special
Counsel,U.S.DepartmentofJustice
Re: ApplicationofTreatiesandLawstoalQaedaandTalibanDetainees 38
Memo5. January19,2002
To: ChairmanoftheJointChiefsofStaff
From: DonaldRumsfeld,SecretaryofDefense
Re: StatusofTalibanandalQaeda 80
v
vi Contents
Memo6. January22,2002
To: AlbertoR.Gonzales,CounseltothePresident,andWilliamJ.Haynes,
GeneralCounsel,DepartmentofDefense
From: JayS.Bybee,AssistantAttorneyGeneral,U.S.DepartmentofJustice
Re: ApplicationofTreatiesandLawstoalQaedaandTalibanDetainees 81
Memo7. January25,2002
To: PresidentBush
From: AlbertoR.Gonzales,CounseltothePresident
Re: DecisionReApplicationoftheGenevaConventiononPrisonersof
WartotheConflictwithalQaedaandtheTaliban 118
Memo8. January26,2002
To: CounseltothePresident,AssistanttothePresidentforNationalSecurity
Affairs
From: ColinL.Powell,U.S.DepartmentofState
Re: DraftDecisionMemorandumforthePresidentontheApplicability
oftheGenevaConventiontotheConflictinAfghanistan 122
Memo9. February1,2002
To: PresidentBush
From: JohnAshcroft,AttorneyGeneral
Re: JusticeDepartment’spositiononwhytheGenevaConventiondidnot
applytoalQaedaandTalibandetainees 126
Memo10. February2,2002
To: CounseltothePresident
From: WilliamH.TaftIVLegalAdvisor,U.S.DepartmentofState
Re: CommentsonYourPaperontheGenevaConvention 129
Memo11. February7,2002
To: TheVicePresident,TheSecretaryofState,TheSecretaryofDefense,The
AttorneyGeneral,ChiefofStafftothePresident,DirectorofCIA,
AssistanttothePresidentforNationalSecurityAffairs,Chairmanofthe
JointChiefsofStaff
From: GeorgeW.Bush
Re: HumaneTreatmentofalQaedaandTalibanDetainees 134
Memo12. February7,2002
To: AlbertoR.Gonzales,CounseltothePresident
From: JayB.Bybee,AssistantAttorneyGeneral,U.S.DepartmentofJustice
Re: StatusofTalibanForcesUnderArticle4oftheThirdGeneva
Conventionof1949 136
Memo13. February26,2002
To: WilliamJ.HaynesII,GeneralCounsel,DepartmentofDefense
From: JayS.Bybee,AssistantAttorneyGeneral,U.S.DepartmentofJustice
Re: PotentialLegalConstraintsApplicabletoInterrogationsofPersons
CapturedbyU.S.ArmedForcesinAfghanistan 144
Memo14. August1,2002
To: AlbertoR.Gonzales,CounseltothePresident
From: JayS.Bybee,AssistantAttorneyGeneral,U.S.DepartmentofJustice
Re: StandardsofConductforInterrogationunder18U.S.C.
§§2340-2340A 172
Contents vii
Memo15. August1,2002
To: AlbertoR.Gonzales,CounseltothePresident
From: JohnYoo,DeputyAssistantAttorneyGeneral,U.S.Departmentof
Justice,OfficeofLegalCounsel
Re: Letterregarding“theviewsofourOfficeconcerningthelegality,
underinternationallaw,ofinterrogationmethodstobeusedon
capturedalQaedaoperatives” 218
(Thefollowingthreememos(#s16,17,18)arecoverletterstotherequestsforapproval
ofCounter-ResistanceStrategies,whichfollow#s19,20.)
Memo16. October25,2002
To: ChairmanoftheJointChiefsofStaff,WashingtonD.C.
From: GeneralJamesT.Hill,DepartmentofDefense,U.S.SouthernCommand,
Miami,FL
Re: Counter-ResistanceTechniques 223
Memo17. October11,2002
To: GeneralJamesT.Hill,Commander,U.S.SouthernCommand,Miami,FL
From: Maj.Gen.MichaelDunlavey,DepartmentofDefense,JTF170,
Guanta´namoBay,Cuba
Re: Counter-ResistanceStrategies 225
Memo18. October11,2002
To: GeneralJamesT.Hill,Commander,JointTaskForce170
From: DianeBeaver,StaffJudgeAdvocate,DepartmentofDefense,JTF170,
Guanta´namoBay,Cuba
Re: LegalReviewofAggressiveInterrogationTechniques 226
Memo19. October11,2002
To: GeneralJamesT.Hill,Commander,JointTaskForce170
From: JeraldPhifer,Director,J2,DepartmentofDefense,JTF170,
Guanta´namoBay,Cuba
Re: RequestforApprovalofCounter-ResistanceStrategies 227
Memo20. October11,2002
To: GeneralJamesT.Hill,Commander,JointTaskForce170
From: DianeBeaver,StaffJudgeAdvocate,DepartmentofDefense,JTF170,
Guanta´namoBay,Cuba
Re: LegalBriefonProposedCounter-ResistanceStrategies 229
Memo21. November27,2002(approvedbyRumsfeldDecember2,2002)
To: DonaldRumsfeld,SecretaryofDefense
From: WilliamJ.HaynesII,GeneralCounsel,DepartmentofDefense
Re: Counter-ResistanceTechniques 237
Memo22. January15,2003
To: GeneralCounseloftheDepartmentofDefense
From: DonaldRumsfeld,SecretaryofDefense
Re: DetaineeInterrogations 238
Memo23. January15,2003
To: CommanderU.S.SouthernCommand
From: DonaldRumsfeld,SecretaryofDefense
Re: Counter-ResistanceTechniques 239
viii Contents
Memo24. January17,2003
To: GeneralCounseloftheDepartmentoftheAirForce
From: WilliamJ.HaynesII,GeneralCounsel,DepartmentofDefense
Re: WorkingGrouptoAssess(Interrogationissues) 240
Memo25. March6,2003
Classifiedby: DonaldRumsfeld,SecretaryofDefense
DRAFT: WorkingGroupReportonDetaineeInterrogationsintheGlobal
WaronTerrorism:AssessmentofLegal,Historical,Policy,and
OperationalConsiderations 241
Memo26. April4,2003
Classifiedby: DonaldRumsfeld,SecretaryofDefense
WorkingGroupReportonDetaineeInterrogationsintheGlobal
WaronTerrorism:AssessmentofLegal,Historical,Policy,and
OperationalConsiderations 286
Memo27. April16,2003
To: JamesT.Hill,Commander,U.S.SouthernCommand
From: DonaldRumsfeld,SecretaryofDefense
Re: Counter-ResistanceTechniquesintheWaronTerrorism 360
Memo28. March19,2004
To: WilliamH.TaftIV,GeneralCounsel,DepartmentofState,WilliamJ.
HaynesII,GeneralCounsel,DepartmentofDefense,JohnBellinger,
LegalAdviserforNationalSecurity,ScottMuller,GeneralCounsel,
CentralIntelligenceAgency
DistributedtoAlbertoR.Gonzales,CounseltothePresident
From: JackGoldsmithIII,AssistantAttorneyGeneral,OfficeofLegalCounsel
Re: DraftofanopinionconcerningthemeaningofArticle49ofthe
FourthGenevaConventionasitappliesinoccupiedIraq. 366
Reports
February2004(TheICRCReport) 383
ReportoftheInternationalCommitteeoftheRedCross(ICRC)onthe
TreatmentbytheCoalitionForcesofPrisonersofWarandOtherProtected
PersonsbytheGenevaConventionsinIraqDuringArrest,Internmentand
Interrogation
March2004(TheTagubaReport) 405
Article15-6Investigationofthe800th MilitaryPoliceBrigade
AnnexestotheTagubaReport
UndatedPsychologicalAssessmentofAllegationsofDetaineeAbuse
atAbuGhraibbyCol.HenryNelson,USAFPsychiatrist
September2003Maj.Gen.GeoffreyMiller’sassessmentregarding
interrogationandintelligenceoperationsinIraq
Memo12October2003
To:CombinedJointTaskForceSeven,Baghdad,Iraq
From:RicardoS.Sanchez,LieutenantGeneral,USACommanding
Re:InterrogationandCounter-ResistancePolicy