The document is an internal FBI email sent from Eleni Kalisch to FBI Director Robert Mueller, regarding an HPSCI briefing concerning detainee interrogations. The briefing included information about the yield of information from detainee interrogations, the value of "capture shock," and the FBI's role overseas in conducting interviews.
(DO) (FBI)
b7C
From: KALISCH, ELENI P. (OCA) (FBI)
Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 4:35 PM,
To: MUELLER, ROBERT S. III (DO) (FBI)
Cc: GEBHARDT, BRUCE J. (DO) (FBI); PISTOLE, JOHN S. (DO) (FBI)
Subject: HPSCI Briefing re interrogations
SEIISTBUT UNCLASSIFIED
NON-RECORD
ALL INFOPEATION CONTAINED
'NEPEIN IS UNCLASIFIED
DATE 00- • 0 EY 55179 DAH/STY
Director: sa .
Gary Bald did a great job at the.HPSCI briefing this afternoon. The briefing, attended by approximately.15 •
staffers, focused on the value of the information being elicited from interrogations at Gitmo, Afghanistan and Iraq.
All of the witnesses — DIA, Army, CTC, FBI — confirmed. that the interrogations are yielding valuable information
even at Gitmo and that one of the advantages we have is the ability to "get back in the box" with detainees time
after time to challenge their information as new information is developed.
Army General Alexander highlighted the value of "capture shock" and the fact that the most valuable information
is obtained within hours of a person's capture because they believe they are about to be tortured and killed. He -
distinguished between coercion and abuse and advised that the efficacy. of coercion depends on the detainee.
He explained acceptable techniques — feeding detainees MREs, depriving them of sleep, stripping them, having
dogs present during questioning — and unacceptable — what occurred at Abu Ghraib.
--Admiral Jacoby_offered that someone like_ P.agille.,:x4o i amiliar_with.thel).5, penal system, is not,susdeptible
coercion bUt seems to respond to reward-and-punishment..
Alexander'and Jacoby conducted most of the briefing because the staff was mostly interested in hearing
examples of valuable intelligence being elicited from detainees. There was no in-depth, aggreisive questioning
by the staff as to techniques.
Gary provided an Overview of the FBI's role overseas in conducting "interviews." In response to a question about
whether Agents were instructed not tozr participate in coercive/abusive interrogations, Gary reiterated our policy
and advised that Agents were told that they must, comply with FBI standards. The staff did not probe further.
Gary then explained o rmation provided by theQIA has beea,beneficial to the FBI in preventing terrorist
attacks and cite and today's indictment of] las examples of cases that resulted.from the
CIA's interrogation o
In ,closing, Admiral Jacoby raised concerns about making USG.standards and guidelines public because the
."uncertainty" of how we will treat a detainee is a powerful tool in eliciting information.• Gary added that we are
engaged in discussions with the 9/11 Commission which wants to publish the names of detainees and the
information' they have provided. Gary emphasized (and all of the witnesses and Committee staffers nodded
agreement) that this would telegraph to Al Qaida what we don't know.
By the way, this is the first I had heard of this issue. Gary told me afterwards that the Commission is intent on
publishing this information. I think we should engage Goss/Harman and Roberts/Rockefeller, if the Commission
does not relent.
Eleni
StS:47-NE BUT UNCLASSIFIED