Army Questionnaire: Questions for the Commander of Forward Operating Base Salerno concerning his observations and experience in dealing with detainees, training before deployment and Rules of Engagement. The questionnaire appears to be in response to the accusations of detainee abuse and an effort to elicit information on the matter.
Paps 272
CJTF I 80-IG 27 February 2004
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
SUBJECT: Interview of Commander FB Salerno 27 Feb 04
1.
The CJTF180 IG interviewed the TF 1-501 Commander and asked these questions
2.
Q: How quickly do you hand over PUCs to MPs?
A: 72 hours. But 10 days is the max that we have kept a detainee
3. Q: Is mistreatment of a PUC an Serious Incident Report (SIR)?
A: Yes
Who would initiate the SIR?
4. Q: Did your unit train on Law of War prior to deploying or dtiring deployment?
A: Yes
5.
Q: Do you ensure that all Detainees are protected, safeguarded, and accounted for from the time of capture until evacuation to designated internment facilities? .A: Yes
6.
Q: What do you allow a captured/detained person to keep on their person?
A: I really don't know. But, I would say nothing.
7. Do you tag captured or detained persons or their property?
A: Yes, we use the EPW tag
8. If a detained person refuses to answer your questioning can you? Can you threaten the Detainee? Can you insult the Detainee?
A: We may stress the Detainee and he may not get food and water immediately, but he will get it within the first 24 hours.
9. Q: Do you keep detainees near fuel, ammo, or commo equipment?
A: No. They are outside of the inner perimeter. There is no ASP and they are not near fuel or communications equipment.
10. Q: Do you believe that you are required to report acts of poor treatment of prisoners or detainees/PUCs?
A: Yes. In fact I initiated one commander's inquiry after a detainee made the allegation that someone threw water on him. The inquiry was completed and there was nothing substantiated.
DA IG
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DOD-045262
Pape 273
CJTF180-IG
SUBJECT: Interview of Commander A FB Salerno 27 Feb 04
11. Q: Have you any knowledge or ever seen anyone torture or beat anyone?
A: No
12. Q: Have you any knowledge or ever seen anyone deprive a PUC of their 5 senses? If so, why and for how long?
A: Yes we place a cravat over the eyes and sandbag the detainee upon initial capture. We do not have earmuffs. I believe we may have put gloves on a PUC to deny them their sense of touch.
13. How do you treat PUCs or detainees? Good/Fair/Poor?
A: Good and I believe that we do not get as much intelligence as we could out of the detainee because of how good we treat them.
14. To your knowledge has anyone ever taken a picture of a PUC?
A: There haven't been any trophy photos taken. However, there may have been some photos taken on the objective and I will not say that it hasn't happened. Because it could have easily happened.
15. Are you aware that deadly force is authorized against an escaping prisoner?
A: Yes as a last resort.
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DA IG
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DOD-045263