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CIA Waterboarded Gitmo Detainee 183 Times in a Month

That's twice CIA's max, challenges efficacy

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 19, 2009 11:38 AM CDT

(Newser) – A Department of Justice memo that detailed interrogation techniques used on prisoners at Guantanamo Bay notes that in August 2002, suspected al-Qaeda official Abu Zubaydah was waterboarded 82 times, while the following March, 9/11 suspect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was waterboarded 183 times. But as the blog Emptywheel points out, there's no way to get to those numbers within the CIA's guidelines.

If you do the math, the CIA maximum allowance is still less than half of 183 waterboarding sessions. But aside from the arithmetic troubles, Emptywheel points out that the main problem is that a technique that required 183 applications to work is considered an effective means of interrogation.

In this sketch by courtroom artist Janet Hamlin, Sept. 11 attack co-defendant Khalid Sheikh Mohammed sits during a hearing on Jan. 19, 2009.
In this sketch by courtroom artist Janet Hamlin, Sept. 11 attack co-defendant Khalid Sheikh Mohammed sits during a hearing on Jan. 19, 2009.   (AP Photo/Janet Hamlin, Pool)
In this 2003 file photo, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is seen shortly after his capture during a raid in Pakistan.
In this 2003 file photo, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is seen shortly after his capture during a raid in Pakistan.   (AP Photo/File)
This photo provided by US Central Command shows Abu Zubaydah, date and location unknown.
This photo provided by US Central Command shows Abu Zubaydah, date and location unknown.   (AP Photo/U.S. Central Command)
In this June 6, 2008, photo, a guard stands at a gate at the Camp Delta detention compound at Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base in Cuba.
In this June 6, 2008, photo, a guard stands at a gate at the Camp Delta detention compound at Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base in Cuba.   (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
Doctor-Zaius
Apr 20, 2009 12:29 PM CDT
No, we didnt get any useful info out of him.
Doctor-Zaius
Apr 20, 2009 12:28 PM CDT
Torture doesn't work. Lock this piece of shit up forever. But there are other ways of getting info out of him that actually work.
woodyTX
Apr 20, 2009 3:33 AM CDT
Beer King it's clear we could have done anything to this guy. Torture him. Kill him. Whatever. I don't think anyone on this page feels the least bit sorry for him. We are exploring what our ethical position is ? What effect does he have on us ? What does our reaction to him make us become ? Can we get what we need from this man without becoming him ? If we unleash our animal urges the world will only be a sorrier place. It's a very difficult dilemma for most. Apparently not for you. As I've said in past posts .................in an eye for an eye world we all end up blind in the end.
 

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