ASSESSMENT OF EITS EFFECTIVENESS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: Documents Related to the Former Detention and Interrogation Program
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 6541718
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Release Date: June 13, 2016
• Case Number: F-2015-02400
• Publication Date: September 2, 2005

Date:
To:
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Memorandum
September 2, 2005
Director Porter Goss
CIA
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Assessment of EITs Effectiveness
Introduction
You have asked us to make judgments regarding the effectiveness of the range of
enhanced interrogation techniques (EITs) used by the Renditions and Detention Group of
the Counterterrorism Center of the CIA (CTC/RDG) on high value detainees (HVDs). It
is my understanding that this request evolved from a recommendation in a 2004 report of
the CIA Inspector General that addressed the larger issue of agency-wide
counterterrorism detention and interrogation activities that took place from September,
2001 ? October, 20031. During the course of our review, we have interviewed senior
staff of CTC, CTC/RDG, OMS, 010, DI, contract employees of CTC, as well as agents
of the FBI. We have been heavily reliant on the willingness of CTC staff to provide us
with the factual material that forms the basis of our conclusions and I am grateful to them
and to all others who so generously shared with us their time, knowledge and experience.
Neither my background nor field of expertise particularly lend themselves to judging the
effectiveness of interrogation techniques, taken individually or collectively. However, I
have spent considerable time and energy studying the important responsibilities of the
RDG and the role this program plays in providing extraordinarily useful intelli ence to
both dic makers and those on the front lines defendin America.
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'The report contains a recommendation that asks the DDO to "conduct a review of the effectiveness of
each of the authorized Errs (Enhance Interrogation Techniques) and make a determination regarding the
necessity for the continued use of each, including the required scope and duration of each technique.
Include in the group conducting the review non-Agency, independent experts recommended by the Director
of OMS and. the Deputy Director for Science &Technolo
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Overall Program Effectiveness
It is clear from our discussions with both DO and DI officers that the program is deemed
by them to be a great success, and I would concur. The EITs, as part of the overall
program, are credited with enabling the US to disrupt terrorist plots, capture additional
terrorists, and collect a high volume of useful intelligence on alQai'da (AQ). The
program accounts for over half of all HUMINT CIA collection against AQ and associated
groups, and vast numbers of intelligence reports have been produced as a result: Source
validation is another major benefit of the program. There are accounts of numerous plots
against the US and the West that were revealed as a result of HVD interrogations.
Detainee reporting from the RD( program has played a significant role in the capture of
nearly all AQ operatives and associates in US custody, no doubt saving countless
American lives.
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