THE TORTURE PAPERS:  THE ROAD TO ABU GHRAIB

MEMO 22

UNCLASSIFIED
SECRET/NOFORN

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
1000 DEFENSE PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20301-1000
JAN 15 2003

MEMORANDUM FOR THE GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

SUBJECT:  Detainee Interrogations (U)

(U) Establish a working group within the Department of Defense to assess the legal, policy, and operational issues relating to the interrogations of detainees held by the U.S. Armed Forces in the war on terrorism.

(U) The working group should consist of experts from your Office, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the Military Departments, and the Joint Staff.  The working group should address and make recommendations as warranted on the following issues:

• (U) Legal considerations raised by interrogation of detainees held by U.S. Armed Forces.

• (U) Policy considerations with respect to the choice of interrogation techniques, including:

  • (U) contribution to intelligence collection

  • (U) effect on treatment of captures US military personnel

  • (U) effect on detainee prosecutions

  • (U) historical role of US armed forces in conducting interrogations

• (U) Recommendations for employment of particular interrogation techniques by DoD interrogators.

(U) You should report your assessment and recommendations to me within 15 days.

Classified by: Secretary Rumsfeld
Reason: 1.5(c)
Declassify on: 10 years

Declassify Under the Authority of Executive Order 12958
By Executive Secretary, Office of the Secretary of Defense
By William P. Marriott, CAPT, USN
June 21, 2004

UNCLASSIFIED
SECRET/NOFORN

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