Harsher methods were sought at Guantanamo

May 21, 2004 | WASHINGTON (AP) -- In late 2002, U.S. interrogators of suspected terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay sought approval to use harsher methods than are called for in standard military doctrine, and some of those techniques were used until military lawyers objected, officials said Thursday.

Larry Di Rita, spokesman for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, refused to identify the techniques, which he described as "non-doctrinal,'' meaning they were not in accordance with military doctrine, which was written to apply to interrogations of prisoners of war, not terrorists.

The military lawyers believed that some of those techniques went too far, other officials said.

Questions about limits on interrogation techniques and detention methods have focused mainly on U.S.-run prisons in Iraq in recent months, following revelations about abusive methods used against Iraqis. Investigators also are looking at U.S. interrogation practices used in Afghanistan, but the Pentagon has not acknowledged serious shortcomings at Guantanamo Bay.

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