Interrogation Log of al-Qahtani (Week 7)
04 January 2003
0130: Head break and 10 minute walk. Interrogators changed topic to Arabic history. Detainee exhibited ignorance of many significant Arabic events.
0200: drank 1 cup of coffee. Topic was changed to religious history. Detainee stated that half the detainees including himself did not become religious until they reached Cuba. Interrogators noted to detainee that religion did not seem to be what encouraged people to join AQ.
0300: Head break and 10 minute walk. Interrogators related that power and money might be motivators for people to join AQ. Interrogators asked detainee what his motivation was for joining AQ. Detainee did not answer and interrogator asked if it was too private a matter to discuss. Detainee answered “yes”.
0330: 1 MRE and 1 Bottle of water.
0400: Head break and nap.
0500: Detainee awakened, given head break and 10 minute walk. Interrogator covered some Arabian history and pointed out similarities between the US constitution and the Koran. Interrogator began circumstantial evidence theme with levels of guilt. Detainee was asked how he felt about the evidence against him and he responded that he thinks about it a lot and tries to diffuse some things against him and disprove others. A timeline was created for the detainee showing his events leading up to Orlando. Detainee was visibly affected by this approach and appeared to be near the point of crying.
0520: Medical check, OK.
0700: Head break, taken to x-ray to sleep and given 1 bottle of water.
1100: Detainee awakened, exercised, taken to bathroom and taken to booth. White noise in background
1130: 2a0761 and 2a0780 entered the booth and instructed detainee to clean room. Detainee cleaned room and drank water. 2a0780 then asked detainee about people that he had previously mentioned. M, A, A. 2a0780 had detainee describe these persons. Detainee stated that they were not religious. Detainee stated that he was not religious at the time and only became religious once he was detained.
1230: Detainee was exercised and taken to the bathroom. Detainee drank 8 ounces of water.
1245: Detainee was returned to booth. 2a0761 entered booth and began to question detainee about his travel from Kandahar, AF to Khost, AF. Detainee provided the following information and people he came in contact with: (refer to mfr for details)
1. A- Detainee described him …
1430: Detainee was exercised and taken to the bathroom. He was returned to the booth and exposed to white noise.
1530: Detainee was exercised and taken to the bathroom. Detainee was returned to booth where he drank 8 ounces of water.
1545: 2a0761 and 2a0780 entered the booth and covered detainee’s timeline from Orlando, Florida, USA to Khost, Pakistan. Detainee was told that the information he has provided is inaccurate since it does not coincide with the war in Afghanistan. He fails to mention any combat in the area at the time he was there or seeing military forces.
1630: Detainee was exercised and taken to the bathroom. Detainee returned to booth and subjected to white noise.
1730: Corpsman checked detainees vitals which were within normal range.
1830: Detainee exercised and taken to the bathroom.
1845: 2a0761 entered the booth and continued to questions detainee about his stay in Kandahar. He provided the following details: (refer to MFR). Detainee was berated for not mentioning details about his passport/visa and money when his trip from Kandahar to Khost was covered. Detainee also stated that if his health had improved he intended on returning to Mazar-e-Sharif to meet with M with the falcons he had acquired. Detainee was berated and told that his story is inconsistent and a lie. 2a0761 then walked out of the room with disgust.
2010: Lt G entered the booth and reinforced that the detainee needed to tell the whole truth and to answer all questions quickly and with detail. LT told detainee that interrogators would ask the same questions several times in order to be complete and thorough. LT also told detainee that he should apologize the next time he saw 2A0761.
2045: Detainee was exercised and taken to the bathroom.
2130: Drank 1 cup of coffee. Interrogators talked to detainee about guilt, leniency, and cultural inhibitions to telling the truth.
2300: Head break, 20 minute exercise. Interrogators began theme that the detainee had no hope of being found innocent, and must begin telling the whole truth to minimize the punishment he would receive. Interrogators feigned anger at detainee and taught detainee the steps to apologize which included admitting what he did, asking forgiveness, and making reparations.
05 January 2003
0100: Head break and 10 minute exercise.
0200: Source ate a cracker and drank a bottle of water he refused the rest of the MRE complaining of an upset stomach. Interrogators asked detainee if he thought he would be found innocent if he went to trial and the detainee stated “yes”. Interrogators explained to detainee that his only hope should be to cooperate so he could get leniency.
0300: Head break and 20 minute exercise. Interrogator continued with leniency theme. Interrogator then left booth so linguist could speak to detainee alone. Linguist recommended the detainee should tell the truth and detainee replied that he couldn’t. Detainee asked linguist “what will they do to me?”. Linguist replied that 3000 people had been killed and we would not stop until we got the truth.
0500: Head break and 10 minute exercise. Interrogator started futility approach telling the detainee that his hope of being believed was false.
0700: Head break and taken to bed.
1100: Detainee taken to bathroom, walked and offered food – refused.
1130: Interrogator instructed detainee to clean the interrogation booth. Detainee drank water.
1200: 2A780 told detainee he is guilty, and the question is how guilty is he and how much leniency can he get.
1230: Interrogator exploits detainee‘s travel prior to going to Orlando.
1330: Detainee taken to bathroom and exercised.
1350: Detainee offered food – ate one MRE. White noise played in background.
1440: Corpsman checked vitals – O.K.
1450: Interrogator exploits detainee’s work history.
1600: Detainee taken to bathroom and walked. Interrogator reminded detainee that it was important to give every detail when giving information because the questions would have to start all over again if he left anything out. Interrogator used love of family approach and asked detainee how his parents would feel if one of his brothers became a suicide bomber and died. Interrogator further said that if the detainee gave the name of the AQ recruiter in Saudi, we could stop this person before he had a chance to talk to the detainee’s brother. Detainee appeared to think deeply about this topic.
1730: Corpsman checked detainee’s vitals – O.K.
1800: Detainee listened to music for remainder of session.
2130: Head break and 10 minute exercise.
2140: Medical check. OK.
2145: Interrogation team entered the booth, IS1 E and a DOD linguist.
2200: Source drank 1 bottle of water. Interrogator told detainee that by lying, he was making his situation worse. IS-1 told detainee that if the cover story was used in a trial, the prosecutor would tear it apart.
2330: Head Break and 10 minute exercise. Topic changed to global issues to discredit UBL and identify the US point of view.
06 January 2003
0100: Head Break and 10 minute exercise.
0230: Head break and 10 minute exercise. SGT began a discussion of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.
0400: Head break and 15 minute exercise. SGT began futility approach using circumstantial evidence.
0530: Head break and 30 minute exercise. Detainee drank _ bottle of water. Corpsman checked vitals – O.K. Circumstantial evidence and futility continued. Detainee’s body language seems to indicate he is becoming more worried about this subject.
0700: Detainee taken to sleep cell.
1100: Detainee awakened, given shower and fresh clothes, taken to bathroom and exercised.
1130: Detainee taken to interrogation booth and drank water.
1200: Corpsman checked vitals – O.K.
1215: Interrogators instruct detainee to drink water and be respectful. Interrogators began questioning detainee about work history prior to the Orlando trip.
1325: Detainee taken to bathroom and exercised. Detainee drank water. Questioning continued.
1530: Detainee taken to bathroom and exercised.
1600: Corpsman checked vitals – O.K. Questioning continued
1730: Detainee taken to bathroom and exercised.
1830: Detainee ate one MRE and drank a bottle of water.
1930: Detainee taken to bathroom and exercised; drank water. Detainee subject to white noise the remainder of the shift.
2030: Detainee taken to bathroom and exercised.
2130: Head break and 10 minute exercise.
2140: Interrogation team entered booth, IS1 E , SGT R and a DOD linguist.
2200: Source drank 1 cup coffee.
2215: Medical check ok. Interrogators talked to detainee about the Saudi royal family and how they had not taken care of the Saudi people. Interrogators then gave detainee an American Government class where they explained the three branches of government and how it all worked. Interrogators explained how both AQ and the Saudi government blamed the US for all their problems, while the truth was that these organizations were the cause of the problems. Interrogators explained how both the US and Saudi had been under control of the British prior to independence. Interrogators explained how the US is obligated to protect its people in interests abroad.
2300: Head break and 10 minute exercise.
2330: Source drank 1 cup coffee. Interrogators explained to detainee that he was so ignorant of the world that he could not distinguish between truth and lies when someone told him something. Interrogators told detainee that he needed to improved [sic] his education about world history and sociology so that he would know when someone lied to him. Interrogators pointed out that AQ had used people like him and tricked them by lying to them.
7 January 2003
0001: Medic gave source Tylenol and 1 cup water. Interrogators asked detainee what his reason for not telling the whole truth was. Interrogators asked if he thought it would be a sin if he did, he replied “no”; asked if he still had allegiance to AQ, he replied “no”, asked if he thought it was the best course of action for him, he replied “yes”.
0200: Nap
0340: Awakened, head break and 10 minute exercise.
0400: Offered food and water, refused. Interrogators resumed discussion about his holding out on telling the truth. Interrogators reiterated that the case against the detainee was strong and he had no hope of being found innocent. Detainee was asked what was wanted of him, he replied “If I help you, you will help me”. Detainee appeared to begin to understand his situation and become distressed.
0500: Head break and 10 minute exercise. Interrogators continued futility approach.
0700: Head break and taken to x-ray for rest period.
1045: Detainee awoke on his own and urinated through the wire of his cell. When asked why he did this and did not request to go to the bathroom, detainee replied that he woke up and could not hold it and had to go immediately.
1100: Detainee woken up and exercised/ taken to the bathroom and moved to booth.
1130: 2a0780 entered booth and used an emotional futility p/e down approach on source.
1300: detainee exercised and taken to the bathroom. Drank water
1315: 2a0761 and 2a0780 entered the booth and continued to exploit detainees work history.
1445: detainee exercised and taken to the bathroom
1530: 2a0761 and 2a0780 continued to exploit detainees work history.
1700: detainee exercised and taken to the bathroom. Drank water.
1730: 2a0761 and 2a0780 continued to exploit sources work history and began to exploit sources car selling business associates.
1900: detainee exercised and taken to the bathroom. Drank water
1915: 2a0780 entered booth and went over maps of sources home, Al Kharj, SA.
2000: Detainee ate 1 MRE and drank water.
2100: Detainee exercised and taken to the bathroom.
Log reviewed to this point by JTF/SJA DMC 7 Jan 02
2115: Interrogation team entered booth, IS1 E , SGT M and a DOD Linguist. Futility approach was run as it was determined that the detainee was holding on to a hope that he would be found innocent. Interrogators explained that this was a false hope.
2230: Head break and 10 minute exercise.
2245: Medical check by corpsman, OK. Interrogator began questioning detainee about his time in AF.
08 January 2003
0030: Head break and 10 minute exercise. Detainee drank one bottle of water.
0230: Head break and 10 minute exercise.
0300: Source ate 1 MRE and drank 1 bottle of water. Interrogator resumed the futility approach and centered around why the detainee still refuses to tell the truth.
0400: Head break and 10 minute exercise. Interrogator began talking about other topics such as the true definition of martyr, and Islamic beliefs. Detainee asked interrogator to tell him about hunting, and interrogator turned the topic back to futility.
0630: Head break and taken for sleep period.
1100: Detainee moved from cell to booth. He is exercised and taken to the bathroom.
1130: 2a0780 enters booth and begins questioning on family history.
1300: Detainee was exercised and taken to the bathroom. Source drank water.
1330: 2a0761 and 2a0780 entered booth and began to exploit sources car business contacts.
1500: Detaineee was exercised and taken to the bathroom
1630: Detainee was exercised and taken to the bathroom. Drank water.
1700: Detainee ate hot food instead of MRE.
1730: 2a0780 exploited detainees family tree and car business associates who traveled to the US
1830: Detainee was exercised and taken to the bathroom. Vitals checked by corpsman and within normal limits.
1900: Detainee given nap.
2200: Detainee woken from nap, exercised, and taken to latrine.
2215: Interrogation began with questioning on the Arabs that where detained with the source.
2330: Detainee taken to latrine and exercised.
09 January 2003
2400: Detainee ate one mre and drank a bottle of water.
2425: Detainee taken to latrine and exercised.
0030: Detainee stated that he was not stupid and answered that he was educated when questioned if he was a doctor, lawyer, or engineer, he said yes to being an engineer.
0230: Detainee taken to the latrine and exercised.
0300: Detainee was seen by the medic everything ok.
0315: Sgt questioned the source on his income and why he did not provide his family any financial help.
0330: Detainee was taken to the latrine and exercised.
0345: SGT ran futility approach life is hopeless. SGT asked the source to visualize his future source said he could then said your right at this point there is no hope, SGT commented that the only thing to do at this time is just confess and help him self, that he is only 30 years old and who knows maybe one day he might even be freed, SGT explained confessed al qaeda members know this and that is why there talking and not to screw him self out of an opportunity to may help his life because there is going to come a time when nothing is going to matter. SGT told the detainee it was time to go to sleep and to think about it, source was very thankful and said that he would consider it since his life right now has no value.
0530: Interrogation ended and detainee was put to bed.
1100: Detainee awakened, taken to bathroom, exercised, and taken to interrogation booth.
1130: A0780 entered the booth and started small talk with detainee. Detainee stated he wanted to fast during the day, and this wish was respected.
1200: A0761 entered the booth and began exploiting shipping companies used by dealerships in SA. Exploitation continued for entire shift.
1300: Detainee taken to bathroom and exercised.
1500: Detainee taken to bathroom and exercised.
1700: Detainee taken to bathroom and exercised.
1900: Detainee taken to bathroom and exercised. Detainee drank 16 oz water
2130: Head break and 10 min exercise.
2145: Medical check. Interrogators reviewed topics of the previous few days. Futility was reinforced and interrogators stated there must be only two reasons for the detainee’s continued resistance; either the detainee did not believe the interrogator, or the detainee was protecting terrorists still at large. Interrogator likened the detainee’s story to swiss cheese, with holes surrounding information concerning terrorists.
2330: Head break and 10 min exercise. Interrogators allowed detainee to choose topic
for discussion. Detainee asked if the interrogator liked to cook and clean because
he (detainee) was a single man and liked to cook.
10 January 2003
0100: 1 cup coffee.
0130: Head break and 10 min exercise. Futility approach was run and detainee said that
he knew nothing about terrorists, but would be willing to go back to the Gulf states and infiltrate terrorist organizations for us to help us out. Futility continued to be run for the remainder of the night.
0200: 10 oz water and 1 cup of coffee.
0300: Head break and 10 min exercise.
0430: Head break and 10 min exercise.
0630: Head break and 10 min exercise.
0645: Medical check – O.K.
0650: Refused MRE and water.
0700: Transferred to x-ray for sleep period.
1100: Woken up/ exercised/ taken to the bathroom and transferred to the booth. Detainee offered food – refused. Interrogators questioned detainee about his work history with emphasis on automotive contacts and meeting places for the entire shift.
1300: Exercised and taken to the bathroom.
1330: Medical check, medic stated source needed to drink water. Source was told to drink water, source complied.
1500: Exercised and taken to bathroom. Source drank water.
1630: Source was asked if he needed a bathroom break, no.
1745: Source exercised and taken to bathroom. Source drank water.
1900: Source was given MRE with extra food inside.
1945: Source exercised and taken to bathroom.
2000: Source was allowed to sit in booth and rest.
Reviewed to this point by SJA, JTF GTMO, 10 January 2003, 1840 hours.
2100: Head break and 10 minute exercise.
2130: Interrogation team entered the booth, IS1 E and a DOD linguist. Interrogator covered previous night’s topic of hopelessness unless the detainee cooperates fully so he can receive leniency. Detainee stated that the session this night was quieter and he liked that, and that he didn’t like to talk about his case because the conversation would become harsh. Interrogator told detainee that conversations became harsh because the detainee lies. Detainee tried to deflect conversation when it turned to Al Qaida.
2245: Head break and 10 minute exercise. Interrogator allowed detainee to choose a topic to talk about. Detainee wanted to talk about dinosaurs. Interrogator gave history of dinosaurs and talked about the meteor that wiped them out, and equated this event with nuclear war. Detainee expresses great ignorance about dinosaurs and space, topics that are taught in U.S. grade schools. Detainee asked interrogator if the sun revolved around the earth.