Page:US Senate Report on CIA Detention Interrogation Program.pdf/113

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waterboard sessions."[1] During the first of three waterboarding sessions that day, interrogators responded to KSM's efforts to breathe during the sessions by holding KSM's lips and directing the water at his mouth.[2] According to a cable from the detention site, KSM "would begin signaling by pointing upward with his two index fingers as the water pouring approached the established time limit." The cable noted that "[t]his behavior indicates that the subject remains alert and has become familiar with key aspects of the process."[3] CIA records state that KSM "yelled and twisted" when he was secured to the waterboard for the second session of the day, but "appeared resigned to tolerating the board and stated he had nothing new to say" about terrorist plots inside the United States.[4]

(TS// //NF) Prior to the third waterboard session of that calendar day, the on-site medical officer raised concerns that the waterboard session—which would be the fourth in 14 hours—would exceed the limits included in draft OMS guidelines that had been distributed the previous afternoon.[5] Those draft guidelines stated that up to three waterboard sessions in a 24-hour period was acceptable.[6] At the time, KSM had been subjected to more than 65 applications of water during the four waterboarding sessions between the afternoon of March 12, 2003, and the morning of March 13, 2003. In response to a request for approval from the chief of Base, CTC attorney   assured detention site personnel that the medical officer "is incorrect that these guidelines have been approved and/or fully coordinated."[7]   sent an email to the detention site authorizing the additional waterboarding session.[8] Despite indications from   that the detention site personnel would receive a formal authorizing cable, no such authorization from CIA Headquarters was provided. At the end of the day, the medical officer wrote  OMS that "[t]hings are slowly evolving form [sic] OMS being viewed as the institutional conscience and the limiting factor to the ones who are dedicated to maximizing the benefit in a safe manner and keeping everyone's butt out of trouble." The medical officer noted that his communication with  OMS was no longer "viewed with suspicion."[9] On the afternoon of March 13, 2003, KSM was subjected to his third waterboard session of that calendar day and fifth in 25 hours. CIA records note that KSM vomited during and after the procedure.[10]


  1.   10804 (140710Z MAR 03);   10790 (130946Z MAR 03)
  2. Interview of  , by [REDACTED] and [REDACTED], Office of the Inspector General, April 30, 2003. The interviewee was a CIA interrogator for KSM at the CIA detention site.
  3.   10790 (130946Z MAR 03)
  4.   10791 (131229Z MAR 03)
  5. Email from: [REDACTED]; to:  ; cc:  ,  , Jose Rodriguez; subject: re: Eyes Only –Legal and Political Quand[]ry; date: March 13, 2003, at 11:28:06 AM.
  6. Email from:  ; to: [REDACTED]; cc:  ; subject: Re: MEDICAL SITREP 3/10; date: March 12, 2003, at, 2:09:47 PM.
  7. Email from:  ; to: [REDACTED]; cc:  ,  , Jose Rodriguez; subject: Re: EYES ONLY – Legal and Political Quandary; date: March 13, 2003, at 8:01:12 AM.
  8. Email from:  ; to: [REDACTED]; cc: Jose Rodriguez,  ,    ,  ,  ; subject: EYES ONLY – Use of Water Board; date: March 13, 2003, at 08:28 AM.
  9. Email from: [REDACTED]; to:  ; cc:  ; subject: Re: State cable; date: March 13, 2003, at 1:43:17 PM. The previous day, the medical officer had written that "I am going the extra mile to try to handle this in a non confrontational manner." Email from: [REDACTED]; to:  ; cc:  ; subject: Re: MEDICAL SITREP 3/10; date: March 12, 2003, at 5:17:07 AM.
  10.   10803 (131929Z MAR 03)

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