Interrogation/Psychological Assessment of Abu Zubaydah (July 2003)

JUL 03

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SUBJECT: EYES ONLY - INTERROGATION/PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF ABU ZUBAYDAH

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TEXT:

1. ACTION REQUIRED: NONE, FYI

2. FROM 23 JUNE  - 1 JULY 2003, HVT INTERROGATOR/PSYCHOLOGISTS [REDACTED] AND [REDACTED] CONDUCTED AN ASSESSMENT OF HVT ((ABU ZUBAYDAH)). THIS ASSESSMENT PROVIDES THE HVT'S CURRENT LEVEL OF INTELLECTUAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STABILITY, RESISTANCE POSTURE STRENGTHS AND VULNERABILITIES, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONTINUED INTERROGATION DEBRIEFING.

3. CURRENT LEVEL OF INTELLECTUAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STABILITY: ABU ZUBAYDAH'S PSYCHOLOGICAL STABILITY IS INTACT. HE CONTINUES TO ADAPT TO THE DEMANDS OF HIS CAPTIVITY EFFECTIVELY AND EVIDENCES NO SIGNS OF PROFOUND OR PROLONGED MENTAL HARM. THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN HIS MENTAL STATUS SINCE THE RESULTS OF HIS 21 MAY 2003 EVALUATION [REDACTED] INTELLECTUALLY CONTINUES TO FUNCTION WELL. HE COMPREHENDS AND RESPONDS APPROPRIATELY TO DIRECTIONS FROM STAFF AND WITH DIALOGUE FROM INTERROGATORS AND DEBRIEFERS. HIS ABILITY TO REASON AND DEAL WITH COMPLEX IDEAS IS INTACT. INTERVIEW AND OBSERVATION OF ABU ZUBAYDAH SUGGEST HE DERIVES SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH FROM HIS DEVOTION AND RELIANCE ON HIS FAITH. HIS FAITH IS A CRITICAL SUSTAINING FACTOR IN HIS CONTINUING INTELLECTUAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL BEING. HE ALSO THRIVES ON SOCIAL INTERACTION. FREQUENT MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE WITH OTHERS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS IS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAINING HIS PRODUCTIVE MENTAL STATE. FINALLY, HE OBTAINS MORAL JUSTIFICATION FOR HELPING WITH INTELLIGENCE REQUIREMENTS BY FRAMING HIS COOPERATION AS EFFORTS TO HELP HIS ISLAMIC BROTHERS AVOID WORSE DIFFICULTIES.

4. RESISTANCE POSTURE, STRENGTHS, AND VULNERABILITIES: A REVIEW AND CURRENT ASSESSMENT OF ABU ZUBAYDAH'S DETENTION BEHAVIOR SHOWS A CONSISTENT AND HIGH LEVVEL OF PRODUCTIVITY FOR OVER 10 MONTHS. HE COMPLETELY COOPERATES WITH ALL EXPLICIT REQUESTS AND IMPLICIT ROUTINES. HE PROACTIVELY PROVIDES USEFUL UNSOLICITED AND NOVEL INFORMATION. WHEN GIVEN A TASK, HE PUTS GREAT EFFORT INTO IT AND APPEARS FULLY ENGAGED. HE STRIVES TO PLEASE AND TRYS [SIC] TO ANTICIPATE DEMANDS, BUT MAINTAINS ALLEGIANCE TO HIS JIHADI ISLAMIC FAITH.

5. EXPLAINING ABU ZUBAYDAH'S MOTIVATION TO COOPERATE WITH HIS CAPTORS IS IMPORTANT IN UNDERSTANDING HIS DETENTION BEHAVIOR AND DEMONSTRATED LEVEL OF COOPERATION. HE ACCEPTS THE "OBJECTIVE TRUTH" OF HIS ASSOCIATION WITH AL-QA'IDA AND ITS OPERATIONS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES. WHILE HE READILY CONFIRMS HIS COMMITMENT TO ISLAM AND HIS JIHADI ASPIRATIONS TO ATTACK ISRAEL, HE SHOWS INVOLUNTARY SYMPTOMS OF REMORSE FOR WHAT HE CONSIDERS A GROSS MISCALCULATION BY UBL IN TERMS OF THE 9/11 ATTACK. HE STATES THE RESULT OF THIS MISCALCULATION WAS TRAGIC IN THE LOSS OF AFGHANISTAN, THE CAPTIVITY OF BROTHERS BY THE UNITED STATES, THE RESULTING LOSS OF HIS ABILITY TO CONDUCT OPERATIONS AGAINST ISRAEL, AND THE "LOSS OF INNOCENT LIVES". WHILE HE REMAINS RESPECTFUL OF UBL HE CONTENDS UBL'S MOTIVES ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE "TRUE ISLAMIC JIHADI WAY". HE SAYS HE FEELS A RELIGIOUS RESPONSIBILITY TO CONVINCE CAPTURED BROTHERS OF THIS VIEW AND HELP THEM AVOID UNNECESSARY HARSH TREATMENT. IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS HE HAS REPEATEDLY OFFERED TO INTERCEDE WTH OTHER DETAINEES TO THIS END. ABU ZUBAYDAH BELIEVES BROTHERS IN CAPTIVITY ARE NOT REQUIRED BY THEIR FAITH TO SUFFER BEYOND THEIR INDIVIDUAL ABILITY TO ENDURE AND THOSE NOT IN CAPTIVITY ARE OBLIGED TO MAKE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES WHEN CAPTIVE BROTHERS PROVIDE INFORMATION. HE SAYS HE DESIRES TO HELP HIS BROTHERS IN CAPTIVITY BY TELLING THEM TO COOPERATE WITH CAPTORS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO AVOID THE "HARD TIMES" BECAUSE HE BELIEVES THEIR COMPLICITY WITH UBL WAS NOT THE BEST CHOICE FOR A DEVOUT ISLAMIC BROTHER AND "EVENTUALLY THEY WILL TALK ANYWAY".

6. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE DEBRIEFINGS: CURRENT DEBRIEFING EFFORTS WITH ABU ZUBAYDAH ARE EFFICIENT AND HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE. HE IS HELPFUL AND COOPERATIVE WITH VIRTUALLY ALL DEBRIEFERS REGARDLESS OF THEIR SKILL LEVEL OR DEFRIEFING EXPERIENCE. NO CHANGE IN DEBRIEFING PROTOCOL IS INDICATED AT THIS TIME.

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8. IN SUMMARY, ABU ZUBAYDAH CONTINUES TO FUNCTION IN AN OPTIMAL DEBRIEFING MODE. HE PROVIDES CONSISTENTLY COMPREHENSIVE AND USEFUL INFORMATION TO ALL DEBRIEFERS. HE CURRENTLY NOT [SIC] AN ADMINISTRATIVE OR SECURITY MANAGEMENT PROBLEM.

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