Colin Snow
Sleep deprivation has been used by the CIA as part of its enhanced interrogation techniques. The CIA has kept prisoners awake for as long as 11 days, with interrogators chaining them to walls and floors, forcing them to stand with their arms chained above heart level, and using bright lights and loud music to prevent them from sleeping. While the CIA has argued that sleep deprivation is a legal interrogation technique, it has faced criticism and condemnation from scientists, human rights organisations, and international bodies for misusing research and causing harm to detainees. The effectiveness and ethics of sleep deprivation as an interrogation technique continue to be debated.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2002 to 2009 |
| Number of prisoners subjected to sleep deprivation | More than 25 |
| Maximum number of days prisoners were kept awake | 11 days |
| Average number of days prisoners were kept awake | 4 days |
| Sleep deprivation methods | Bright lights, loud music, stress positions, shackling, confinement, waterboarding, dietary manipulation, slapping |
| Scientists whose work was used to justify sleep deprivation | Dr. Bernd Kundermann, Dr. S. Hakki Onen, James Horne |
| Scientists' response to their work being used to justify sleep deprivation | Upset, disappointed, hurt |
| Organizations that condemned the use of sleep deprivation | International Committee of the Red Cross, UN Committee Against Torture, European Court of Human Rights |
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What You'll Learn
Sleep deprivation as a form of torture
Sleep deprivation has been used by the CIA as a form of "enhanced interrogation". The CIA has been known to use bright lights and loud music to keep detainees awake. In some cases, detainees were shackled to the floor or ceiling and forced to stand for days on end. This technique was used to erode prisoners' will to resist without causing lasting harm.
The CIA's use of sleep deprivation as a form of torture has been widely criticised. In 2009, German and French researchers whose work had been cited by the CIA to justify the legality of harsh interrogation techniques publicly condemned the Bush Administration for misusing their scientific findings. The researchers noted that their studies only deprived participants of sleep for one night and that even this could lead to hallucinations. They emphasised that the effects of coercive detention and dietary restrictions could have wildly different and serious effects, including psychosis.
Despite this criticism, the CIA continued to use sleep deprivation as a form of torture. In 2007, the agency was allowed to exceed the guidelines set by the Bush administration, keeping prisoners awake for up to six consecutive days. This involved chaining prisoners to the walls and floor of their cells and using diapers to prevent bathroom breaks.
Sleep deprivation was often used in conjunction with other interrogation techniques, such as face-slapping, confinement in small boxes, and waterboarding. The CIA viewed sleep deprivation as a key tool that enabled the effectiveness of other techniques.
The use of sleep deprivation as a form of torture has been documented in CIA memos and reports, with more than 25 prisoners subjected to this treatment. The International Committee of the Red Cross also reported on the use of sleep deprivation and other harsh interrogation techniques by the CIA.
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The legality of sleep deprivation
Sleep deprivation has been used by the CIA as a harsh interrogation technique. The CIA has been known to use this method to erode prisoners' will to resist without causing lasting harm. This technique has been described as a form of torture.
On the other hand, the CIA and Bush administration officials have lobbied to maintain the use of sleep deprivation, arguing that it does not cause severe physical pain and is, therefore, legally permissible. They have also cited scientific studies to support their claims, though the researchers involved have since refuted the CIA's interpretation of their findings.
Furthermore, while President Bush signed an executive order in 2007 outlining detainees' rights to "basic necessities of life," sleep was notably absent from this list. This omission suggests that the Bush administration did not consider sleep a basic necessity and, by extension, sleep deprivation as a violation of human rights.
The Obama administration took steps to rescind the authority for severe interrogation methods, including sleep deprivation. Under the rules of the US Army Field Manual, which now governs all interrogations, prisoners must be allowed to sleep for at least four hours during every 24-hour period.
In conclusion, the legality of sleep deprivation is a highly contested issue with valid arguments on both sides. While some argue that it constitutes torture and violates international law, others claim that it does not cause severe physical pain and is, therefore, legally permissible. The interpretation and application of laws and ethical standards regarding sleep deprivation as an interrogation technique continue to evolve, with ongoing debates and efforts to establish clear boundaries and accountability.
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Sleep deprivation and the Bush administration
Sleep deprivation has been used by the CIA as a form of interrogation. In 2009, memos were released that detailed the CIA's use of sleep deprivation on prisoners. The memos revealed that more than 25 prisoners were subjected to sleep deprivation, with some kept awake for up to 11 days. This was achieved by chaining prisoners to walls and floors, forcing them to stand for days, and using other methods to keep them from falling asleep.
The Bush administration, in particular former vice-president Dick Cheney, approved these harsh interrogation techniques. In 2002, the justice department gave the go-ahead to then-acting CIA general counsel John Rizzo to use sleep deprivation, along with nine other techniques, on an al-Qaida suspect. In 2005 and 2006, CIA lawyers and Bush administration officials lobbied to keep sleep deprivation as a permissible method of interrogation.
In 2007, after a US Supreme Court ruling, President Bush signed an executive order outlining detainees' rights to "basic necessities of life". Notably, the order did not mention sleep as a basic necessity. This omission allowed the CIA to continue using sleep deprivation as an interrogation technique, even as the Bush administration scaled back its use of harsher methods.
The use of sleep deprivation by the CIA has been widely criticised. German and French researchers whose work was cited by the CIA to justify the legality of the technique have condemned the Bush administration for misusing their findings. The researchers emphasised that their studies involved healthy volunteers who were deprived of sleep for no more than one day and were allowed to recover. In contrast, the CIA's use of sleep deprivation spanned 70 to 120 hours, with a maximum limit of 180 hours, which is far beyond the ethical limits set by the researchers.
The UN's committee against torture has also slammed the US for its use of sleep deprivation, stating that it amounts to "ill-treatment" and violates international treaties. Despite these criticisms, the Bush administration failed to explicitly ban the use of sleep deprivation, placing Americans at risk of psychological torture.
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CIA interrogation techniques
The CIA's "enhanced interrogation techniques" have been the subject of much controversy and criticism from human rights groups, foreign governments, and even some US officials. These techniques were developed by psychologists James Elmer Mitchell and Bruce Jessen, who were hired by the CIA to create alternative, harsh interrogation methods. While the Bush administration defended the use of these techniques, claiming they were not torture and had saved lives, many disagree. President Barack Obama halted the program when he took office, calling it a "dark and painful chapter" in US history.
One of the most well-known enhanced interrogation techniques employed by the CIA is sleep deprivation. The CIA sought to justify the legality of this method by citing scientific studies, including the work of Dr. Bernd Kundermann and Dr. S. Hakki Onen. However, these researchers have condemned the misuse of their findings, stating that their studies did not involve the harsh conditions and prolonged sleep deprivation used by the CIA.
In practice, the CIA's use of sleep deprivation involved forcing prisoners to stand, sometimes for days, with their arms chained above heart level or their hands cuffed near their chins. Diapers were used to prevent the need for bathroom breaks. In some cases, prisoners were shackled to a low, unbalanced stool or the floor, with their arms outstretched, to induce discomfort and prevent sleep. The CIA was allowed to keep prisoners awake for extended periods, with some reports of detainees being deprived of sleep for up to six consecutive days.
Sleep deprivation was often used in conjunction with other techniques, such as face-slapping, water dousing, and confinement in small boxes. It was seen as a particularly effective method because it eroded prisoners' will to resist without causing apparent lasting harm. However, the effects of prolonged sleep deprivation can be serious, including hallucinations, psychosis, and even potential long-term mental health consequences.
Other enhanced interrogation techniques used by the CIA included waterboarding, dietary manipulation, rectal rehydration, and threats to detainees and their families. These methods have been widely criticized and, in some cases, ruled as torture by legal authorities. The effectiveness of these techniques in acquiring intelligence has also been questioned, with some suggesting that they produced little valuable information.
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Sleep deprivation beyond 48 hours
Sleep deprivation can occur after just 24 hours of no sleep, and the symptoms become more severe the longer a person stays awake. After 24 hours, individuals can expect to feel tired and exhausted, and their risk of errors and accidents in everyday tasks increases. This is because their cognitive function and perception of reality may be impaired.
The CIA has used sleep deprivation as an interrogation technique, with prisoners kept awake for up to 11 days. In one instance, a prisoner was kept awake for six straight days by being chained to the walls and floor of a cell. Another prisoner, suspected Al Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah, claimed he was shackled by his hands and feet for two to three weeks.
Sleep deprivation was seen as an attractive technique by the CIA because it was thought to erode prisoners' will to resist without causing lasting harm. However, the effects of sleep deprivation can be serious, and even result in psychosis. The technique has been criticised by scientists whose work was used to justify its legality, who argue that the CIA misused their research.
Under the rules of the U.S. Army Field Manual, which now governs all interrogations, prisoners must be allowed to sleep at least four hours during every 24-hour period.
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Frequently asked questions
The use of sleep deprivation as an interrogation technique is controversial. While it has been used by the CIA, it is not clear if it is illegal. Scientists whose work has been cited by the CIA to justify the legality of the technique have condemned the misuse of their findings.
CIA interrogators have kept detainees awake for up to 6 days straight, with permission from government lawyers. In some cases, detainees have been kept awake for 11 days, with medical personnel ensuring they weren't injured.
Detainees were forced to stand with their arms chained above heart level, or shackled to the floor or ceiling. Bright lights and loud music were also used to prevent sleep.
Sleep deprivation was seen as a tempting technique because it was thought to erode prisoners' will to resist without causing lasting harm. It was also considered less objectionable than other harsh methods like waterboarding.
