Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
THE
PRESIDENTS PSYCHOLOGISTS:
April 2015
Authors
Leadauthors:
StephenSoldz,Ph.D.
NathanielRaymond
StevenReisner,Ph.D.
Coauthors:
ScottA.Allen,M.D.
IsaacL.Baker
AllenS.Keller,M.D.
Reviewer:
JeanMariaArrigo,Ph.D.
ithasbeenfalselyassertedthat[theAmericanPsychologicalAssociation]
colludedwiththeBushadministrationintheharmfuldetentionandinterrogation
practicesoftheWaronTerror.
Dr.MelbaVasquez,thenAPAPresident,inaDecember5,2011openletter
toPsychologistsforanEthicalAPA
Youwon'tgetanyfeedbackfrom[Dr.James]Mitchellor[Dr.Bruce]Jessen.They
aredoingspecialthingstospecialpeopleinspecialplaces,andgenerallyarenot
available.
Dr.KirkHubbard,thenCIASeniorBehavioralScientist,inanAugust6,2003
emailtoDr.GeoffreyMumford,thenAPADirectorofSciencePolicy
(explainingMitchellsandJessenslackofresponseafteranAPA/CIA/RAND
conferencewhereinterrogationtechniqueswerediscussedwithMitchell,
JessenandotherCIAoperationalpsychologists)
IthoughtyouandmanyofthosecopiedherewouldbeinterestedtoknowthatAPA
grabbedthebullbythehornsandreleasedthis[PsychologicalEthicsandNational
Security]TaskForceReporttoday....Ialsowantedtosemipubliclyacknowledge
yourpersonalcontribution...ingettingthiseffortoffthegroundoverayearago.Your
viewswerewellrepresentedbyverycarefullyselectedTaskForcemembers....
Dr.GeoffMumfordinaJuly5,2005emailtoDr.KirkHubbardandothers
connectedtotheUSintelligencecommunity.Hubbard,whopubliclyclaimsto
havebroughtMitchellandJessenintotheCIA,wasbythenworkingforthem
atMitchellJessenandAssociates
Author Bios
Institutionalaffiliationsoftheauthorsdonotindicateendorsementofthisreportorits
findings.
StephenSoldz,Ph.D.isaclinicalpsychologist,psychoanalyst,andresearchmethodologist
andisProfessorattheBostonGraduateSchoolofPsychoanalysis.Heisapastpresidentof
PsychologistsforSocialResponsibility,acofounderoftheCoalitionforanEthical
Psychology,andAntitortureAdviserforPhysiciansforHumanRights.Dr.Soldzhas
publishedextensivelyinthepsychologicalresearchliteratureandontheintersectionof
psychologyandsocialissues,includingtheroleofpsychologistsininterrogations.Heserved
asconsultantonseveralGuantnamotrials.
NathanielRaymondisDirectoroftheSignalProgramonHumanSecurityandTechnology
attheHarvardHumanitarianInitiative,HarvardChanSchoolofPublicHealth.Hewas
formerlyDirectorofOperationsfortheSatelliteSentinelProjectattheHarvardHumanitarian
Initiative.RaymondservedasDirectoroftheCampaignAgainstTortureatPhysiciansfor
HumanRightsandleadinvestigatorintothealleged2001DashteLeilimassacrein
NorthernAfghanistan.Hewasleadauthorofthe2010reportExperimentsinTorture:Human
SubjectResearchandEvidenceofExperimentationintheEnhancedInterrogation
Program.
StevenReisner,Ph.D,aclinicalpsychologistandpsychoanalyst,isafoundingmemberof
theCoalitionforanEthicalPsychology,AdvisoronPsychologyandEthicsforPhysiciansfor
HumanRightsandpastPresidentofPsychologistsforSocialResponsibility.Hehasbeena
consultantonissuesoftrauma,torture,politicalviolence,disasterresponseandresiliencein
thefaceofcatastrophiceventsfortheUnitedNations,theInternationalCriminalCourt,the
InternationalOrganizationforMigrationandotherinternationalhumanitarianandmental
healthorganizations.Dr.Reisnerhasauthoredandcoauthorednumerousarticlesonthe
personalandsocietaleffectsofpoliticalviolence,aswellasontheroleofhealth
professionalsintortureandabuse.HeiscurrentlyamemberoftheAPACouncilof
Representatives.
ScottA.Allen,MD,FACPisProfessorofMedicineandAssociateDeanofAcademicAffairs
attheUniversityofCaliforniaRiversideSchoolofMedicineandCoDirectoroftheCenterfor
PrisonerHealthandHumanRightsatBrownUniversityandisamedicaladvisorto
PhysiciansforHumanRightsandacoauthorofanumberofearlierreportsontheU.S.
interrogationprogram.HewasformerlythestatemedicalprogramdirectorfortheRhode
Islandcorrectionssystem.Hehaswrittenandspokenextensivelyabouttheroleofhealth
professionalsindetentionsettings.
IsaacBakeristheImageryAnalysisManagerfortheSignalProgramattheHarvard
HumanitarianInitiative,HarvardChanSchoolofPublicHealth.Bakerstartedhiscareer
inwarcrimesinvestigationsatPhysician'sforHumanRights,workingoncasesofabuse
againstdetaineesinCIAcustodyduringtheBushAdministration.HelaterjoinedtheSatellite
SentinelProjectattheHarvardHumanitarianInitiativeastheImageryAnalysisManager
in2011.Hehaspublishedandlecturedextensivelyontheuseoftechnologytosupport
humanitarianresponseandconducthumanrightsinvestigations.
AllenS.Keller,M.D.isAssociateProfessorofMedicineandPopulationHealthatNYU
SchoolofMedicine.HeisthecofounderandDirectoroftheBellevue/NYUProgramfor
SurvivorsofTortureandtheNYUCenterforHealthandHumanRights.Dr.Kellercurrently
overseesundergraduateBioethicseducationatNYUSchoolofMedicine.Dr.Kelleris
recognizedinternationallyforhisexpertiseinevaluatinganddocumentingthehealth
consequencesoftortureandotherhumanrightabusesandcaringforitsvictims.Dr.Keller
isapastmemberoftheAmericanCollegeofPhysiciansEthicsandHumanRights
Committee.
AuthorsNote
TheauthorsbegantheiranalysisoftheemailsreferencedinthisreportbeforetheAmerican
PsychologicalAssociation(APA)initiatedanindependentinvestigationintoalleged
complicitybetweentheAPAandtheBushAdministrationrelatedtotheCIAandDepartment
ofDefensepost9/11interrogationprograms.Theinquiry,ledbyattorneyMr.DavidHoffman
ofSidleyAustinLLCandhiscolleagues,beganinNovember2014andisstillongoingatthe
timeofthisreportspublication.ThefindingsoftheHoffmanInquiryareexpectedtobe
releasedsometimeinspring2015.
TheauthorshavecooperatedfullywithMr.Hoffmanandhisfellowinvestigators,andhave
madetheevidenceandfindingspresentedinthisreportavailabletothem.Althoughthe
authorsanalysisprovidesnewevidenceandshedslightoneventsrelevanttotheHoffman
Inquiry,theHoffmanreportwillreferenceprimarysourcesandinterviewsfarbeyondthe
scopeoftheGerwehremails.
TheauthorshopethattheworkofMr.Hoffmanandhiscolleagueswillencourage
accountabilityforanyviolationsoflawandhealthprofessionalethicsthatmayhaveoccurred
andthatanyindividualwithrelevantfirsthandknowledgewillcomeforwardandcooperate
withtheHoffmanInquiry.
Theauthorsstronglyencourageanyonewithinformationthattheybelievemaybepertinent
tocontactSidleyAustinLLC.Thisemailaddressandphonelinearesolelydedicatedto
communicationrelatedtotheinquiry:
apareview@sidley.com
(312)4568468
Abbreviations
APA
BSCT
CI
CIA
CIDT
CIFA
CTC
DCHC
DoD
DoJ
EITs
FBI
HIG
NIH
NIMH
NSA
OAD
OIG
OLC
OMS
OSTP
PENS
SASC
SERE
SSCI
USG
AmericanPsychologicalAssociation
DoDBehavioralScienceConsultationTeam
Counterintelligence
CentralIntelligenceAgency
Cruel,inhuman,anddegradingtreatment
DoDCounterintelligenceFieldActivity
CIACounterterrorismCenter
DoDDefenseCounterintelligenceandHumanIntelligenceCenter
DepartmentofDefense
DepartmentofJustice
Enhancedinterrogationtechniques
FederalBureauofInvestigation
FBIHighValueDetaineeInterrogationGroup
NationalInstitutesofHealth
NationalInstituteofMentalHealth
NationalSecurityAgency
CIAOperationalAssessmentDivision
CIAOfficeoftheInspectorGeneral
DoJOfficeofLegalCounsel
CIAOfficeofMedicalServices
WhiteHouseOfficeofScienceandTechnologyPolicy
PsychologicalEthicsandNationalSecurity
USSenateArmedServicesCommittee
Survival,Evasion,Resistance,andEscape
USSenateSelectCommitteeonIntelligence
USGovernment
Dr.GeoffreyMumford,APA(observer)
Dr.RussellNewman,APA(observer)
Dr.ScottShumate,CIFA,DoD(Member)
Preface
Whenconsideringtheanalysispresentedhere,itisimportanttobemindfulofthe
fundamentalprinciplesthatdefineandinformthebehaviorofallhealthprofessionalsand
professionalassociations.Aprofessionischaracterizedbyaspecializedbodyof
knowledgeappliedintheserviceoftheindividualpatientandsociety.Itisincumbent
uponaprofessiontodisseminateandexpandsuchknowledge,toabidebycodesof
ethicsworthyofthedesignationofprofession,includingtheresponsibilitytoself
regulate.
TheAPAisthelargestassociationofprofessionalpsychologistsintheUnitedStates,
and,indeed,theworld.Assuchitplaysamajorroleinsettingstandardsfor
psychologicalresearch,practice,andeducation.Thosestandardsareaprimary
mechanismthatinternationalstandardsforhealthprofessionals,includingsuch
internationalinstrumentsastheConventionagainstTorture,becomeintegratedintothe
practiceandstandardsofUSpsychologists.Further,APA'sstandardsandpositions
exertinfluenceonpsychologicalprofessionalsandassociationsaroundtheworld.
TheAPAlobbiesonbehalfoffundingforpsychologicalresearchandpractice,
credentialsgraduatetrainingprogramsandinternships,andisresponsibletoprotectthe
interestsofpsychologyasaprofession.TheAPAcreatedandperiodicallyrevisesa
codeofethicsthatgovernstheethicalbehaviorofmembersandisintegratedintoor
formsthebasisofmoststatelicensingrequirementsforpsychologists.Thatcode,like
thatofotherhealthprofessions,isbasedonprinciplesofavoidingharmandimproving
people'slives.
Theseprinciplesundergirdthebasisoftrustintheprofessionnecessaryfor
psychologistsbeingabletohelppeoplewithsomeofthemostdifficultandintimateof
life'sproblems.Federalregulationsrequirethatprofessionalpsychologistsintheemploy
oftheUSgovernment,includingthoseinthemilitary,belicensedbyastateandfollow
thestate'sethicscode.
TheAPA'scomplicityintheCIAtortureprogram,byallowingpsychologiststoadminister
andcalibratepermittedharm,underminesthefundamentalethicalstandardsofthe
profession.Ifnotcarefullyunderstoodandrejectedbytheprofession,thismayportenda
fundamentalshiftintheprofession'srelationshipwiththepeopleitserves.
I. Executive Summary
A. Methodology and Key Findings
ThisreportanalyzesemailsfromtheaccountsofdeceasedRANDCorporationresearcher
andapparentCIA(CentralIntelligenceAgency)contractorMr.ScottGerwehr. 1Sixteen
emailswereselectedfordetailedanalysisfromalargercollectionof638emailsthatwere
obtainedbyMr.JamesRisen,authorofPayAnyPriceandareporterfortheNewYork
Times.Theemailswereprovidedtotheauthorsforanalysiswiththeapprovaloftheoriginal
sourcesoftheemails,andwiththeagreementthatonlythoseselectedasmostrelevantto
thescopeofthereportwouldbereleased.All638emailswerereviewedbytheauthors.
Nofindingsofthisreportwereinanywaycontradictedbytheemailsnotincluded.Thetime
frameoftheemailsanalyzedinthisreportspans2003to2006.(Seemoreonmethodsand
sourcesofdatainAppendixI.)Thisreportalsoincludespubliclyavailableinformation
obtainedfromavarietyofsourcesincludingtheAmericanPsychologicalAssociations
website,releasedgovernmentdocuments,andreportsinthemedia.
EmailswereselectedfordetailedanalysisbecausetheyareevidenceoftheGeorgeW.
BushAdministrationsintegralroleinshapingAmericanPsychologicalAssociation(APA)
ethicspolicyonpsychologistparticipationinnationalsecurityinterrogationsafterSeptember
11,2001.Otheremailswerechosenbecausetheyeitherconflictwithorcontradictpast
publicstatementsmadebyAPAofficials,aswellasdisclosenewinformationrelatedtothis
issuethattheAPAappearstohaveconcealed.(SeeAppendixIIforallprimarysource
emailscitedinthisreport.)
BasedonanalysisoftheGerwehremailsandreferencetorelatedopensourcedocuments,
theauthorsnotefivekeyfindingsrelatedtotheAPA:
1. TheAPAsecretlycoordinatedwithofficialsfromtheCIA,WhiteHouse,andthe
DepartmentofDefensetocreateanAPAethicspolicyonnationalsecurity
interrogationsthatcomportedwiththenclassifiedlegalguidanceauthorizingthe
CIAtortureprogram.
2. AUSgovernmentresearchscientist,whohadrecentlyservedasPresident
Bushsbehavioralscienceadvisor,isreportedtohavesecretlydraftedlanguage
relatedtoresearchinsertedbyAPAofficialsintothe2005APAethicspolicyon
interrogations.Whiletheexactlanguageoftheallegedcontributionisnotknown,
thesectiononresearchalignedthatpolicywiththethenclassifiedBradbury
torturememos.TheBradburymemosdirectedhealthprofessionalstoresearch
andassessthesupposedsafety,efficacy,andhealthimpactsoftheenhanced
interrogationtechniques.ThememoswereintroducedatatimewhenCIAOfficeof
1SelectionsfromseveraloftheseemailswerepublishedinRisen,J.(2014),PayAnyPrice:Greed,Power,
andEndlessWar.NewYork:HoughtonMifflinHarcourt.
10
MedicalServices(OMS)personnelwereprotestingtheexpandedinvolvementof
healthprofessionalsinhelpingdeterminethelegalityofthetechniques.
3. TheAPAhadnumerouscontactswithCIAcontractpsychologistsDrs.James
MitchellandBruceJessenstartinginatleast2003,includingcontactsrelatedto
interrogationtechniques;atleastoneseniorAPAofficialwasinformedoftheir
clandestineroleattheCIArelatedtointerrogations;yetAPAhasconsistently
deniedsuchcontacts.
4. APAdidnotdiscloseDr.JamesMitchellspastAPAmembershipwhenit
releasedits2007statementinresponsetojournalistsrevelationsregarding
Mitchellsroleinabusiveinterrogations.NordidAPAincludesuchinformationinits
lettertotheTexasStateBoardofExaminersofPsychologistsin2010;APAstaff
soughttoobscurepastcontactswiththeCIAandwithMitchellandJessenand
theirfirm,MitchellJessenandAssociates.
5. DespitesubstantialcontactbetweentheAPA,theWhiteHouseandCIAofficials,
includingtheover600emailsnotedinthisreport,thereisnoevidencethatany
APAofficialexpressedconcernovermountingreportsofpsychologistinvolvement
indetaineeabuseduringfouryearsofdirectemailcommunicationswithsenior
membersoftheUSintelligencecommunity.
11
ThecomplicitybetweenAPAandgovernmententitiesappearstohavedirectlyinfluencedthe
APAethicspolicychanges,codifiedintotheJune2005reportoftheAPAsPresidentialTask
ForceonPsychologicalEthicsandNationalSecurity(PENS).ThePENSreport,in
combinationwithassociated,pastAPAethicscodechanges,permittedpsychologiststotake
ontherolesofmonitoringandevaluatingthesafetyandefficacyoftheenhanced
interrogationprogram.
APAinvitedpsychologistswhoweredirectlyinvolvedintheCIAsenhancedinterrogation
programtomeetwiththeAPAEthicsOfficeandScienceDirectorateregardingthe
associationsethicspolicies.TheexpressandstatedpurposeofthismeetingwasforAPAto
helpnavigatetheethicalchallengesofpsychologistsinvolvementininterrogations.Two
suchmeetingsareknowntohavetakenplace.
ThefirstmeetingwasheldsecretlyinJuly2004toaddressEthicsandNationalSecurity;
seniorAPAstaffmembersandseniorpsychologistsandothersfromtheCIAandDoD
intelligenceagenciesattended.AmongthelatterwasDr.KirkHubbard,thenChiefof
OperationsfortheCIAOperationalAssessmentDivision.Hubbardhasassertedpubliclythat
heintroducedMitchellandJessenasassetstotheCIA.2Intheemails,APAexplicitlystated
thattheaimoftheJulymeetingwas:
totakeaforwardlooking,positiveapproach,inwhichweconveyasensitivityto
andappreciationoftheimportantworkmentalhealthprofessionalsaredoinginthe
nationalsecurityarena,andinasupportivewayofferourassistanceinhelpingthem
navigatethroughthornyethicaldilemmas.3
2Bloche,M.(2011).TheHippocraticMyth:WhyDoctorsareUnderPressuretoRationCare,Practice
Politics,andCompromiseTheirPromisetoHeal(p.137).NewYork:PalgraveMacmillan.
3StephenBehnke,DirectoroftheAPAEthicsOffice,indicatedthatconversationswithpeopleinthefield
suggestedthatethicalissueswerearisingwithregardtotheinterrogationprogram.The2014Executive
SummaryandFindingsandConclusionsoftheUSSenateSelectCommitteeonIntelligences(SSCI)study
oftheCIAsenhancedinterrogationprogrammayshedlightonthesedilemmas,althoughnotonwhointhe
fieldcommunicatedwithBehnke.InMay2004,twoindependentinvestigatorsnotedthattheprograms
effectiveness(andthereforeitslegality)couldnotbeassessedwithoutviolatingFederalPolicyforthe
ProtectionofHumanSubjectsregardinghumanexperimentation.SeeUSSenateSelectCommitteeOn
Intelligence(2014).CommitteeStudyoftheCentralIntelligenceAgency'sDetentionandInterrogation
12
Anothermeetingthe2005APAPresidentialTaskForceonPsychologicalEthicsand
NationalSecurity(PENS)wasderivedfromthe2004secretmeeting,accordingtothe
emails.Theemailsindicatethatthismeetingensuredthatthelegalsafeguardsbuiltintothe
torturememosissuedbytheDoJsOfficeofLegalCounsel(OLC)werecodifiedinAPA
ethicspolicy.Ratherthanprotectdetainees,thePENSreportinterpretedAPApolicyas
permittingresearchintoandmonitoringofdetaineeinterrogations,violatinglongstanding
medicalethicsprohibitionsagainstcausingharmandconductingprisonerresearchwithout
consent.
TheemailsindicatethatthisresearchsectionofthePENSreportwaswrittenbyDr.Susan
Brandon,aformerWhiteHouseofficialwhoseresponsibilitiesincludedpromotingresearchin
ordertoimprovetheefficacyofinterrogations.Withoutthemonitoringandresearch
permittedbythePENSlanguage,individualswhoimplemented,planned,orauthorizedthe
enhancedinterrogationprogramlikelyfacedheightenedriskoffutureprosecution.
b) No Evidence the APA Demonstrated Concern About Detainee Abuse
NumerousAPAofficials,includingseveralAPAPresidents,haveassertedthatAPAwould
fullyinvestigatereportsofpsychologistinvolvementindetaineeabuse.Forexample,Dr.
StephenH.Behnke,theAPAEthicsOfficeDirector,statedpubliclyinAugust2005:Idont
havefirsthandknowledgeofwhatwentonatGuantanamo.IknowthattheAPAverymuch
wantsthefacts,andthatwhenAPAhasthefacts,wewillactonthosefacts. 4Theemails
contradictthisstatement.Infact,oneyearearlier,Behnkedeliveredtheoppositemessageto
USintelligencepersonneldirectlylinkedtotheclandestineprogram.Intheinvitationtothe
secretJuly2004meetingonethicsandinterrogations,BehnkepromisedCIA,WhiteHouse,
andotherofficialsthatwewillnotpublishorotherwisemakepublicthenamesofattendees
orthesubstanceofourdiscussions.Hefurtherpromised,thatifreportsofabusewereto
emergeinthatmeeting,wewillneitherassessnorinvestigatethebehaviorofanyspecific
individualorgroup.
Program:FindingsandConclusions,p.13of19).Andfurther,theSSCIreportdescribesCIApsychologists
ethicalconcernsasreportedintheSpecialReviewoftheCIAsOfficeoftheInspectorGeneral(May7,
2004):
CIApsychologistsobjectedtotheuseofonsitepsychologistsasinterrogatorsandraised
conflictofinterestandethicalconcerns.AccordingtotheSpecialReview,thiswasbasedona
concernthattheonsitepsychologistswhowereadministeringthe[CIA'senhancedinterrogation
techniques]participatedintheevaluations,assessingtheeffectivenessandimpactofthe[CIA's
enhancedinterrogationtechniques]onthedetainees.AccordingtoOMS,however,the
problemstillexistedbecausepsychologist/interrogatorscontinuetoperformbothfunctions.(SSCI
ExecutiveSummary,pp.472473)
ThisconflictofinterestspecificallyrelatestoMitchellandJessen,whoregularlyassesseddetainees
appropriatenessforenhancedinterrogations,directedtheinterrogationsandthenassessedthe
interrogationseffectiveness.Asthecurrentanalysisdetails,thetwoAPAmeetingsheldtonavigatethese
ethicaldilemmaspavedthewayforpsychologiststoprovidethesupportneededtocontinuetheprogram,
whileremainingwithintheboundsofAPAethicspolicy.
4PsychologicalWarfare?ADebateontheRoleofMentalHealthProfessionalsinMilitaryInterrogationsat
Guantanamo,AbuGhraibandBeyond.(2005,August11).RetrievedFebruary11,2015,from
http://www.democracynow.org/2005/8/11/psychological_warfare_a_debate_on_the
13
AlthoughAPAleadershiphasassertedpubliclythatithadnocontactwhatsoeverwith
[MitchellandJessen]regardinginterrogationsandinterrogationstechniques, 5theemails
revealotherwise.APAhadalongstandingrelationshipwithMitchellandJessenandtheir
firm,aswellaswithgovernmentofficialsandotherpsychologistswhowereknowledgeable
aboutthepairsCIAworkand/orwhowereinvolvedinenhancedinterrogationoperations
andresearch.OnJuly1718,2003,MitchellandJessenattendedaninvitationonly
conferencecosponsoredbyAPA,CIA,andRANDCorporationwhereenhanced"
interrogationpracticesandresearchneedswerediscussed.WhenAPAsoughtfeedback
fromtheparticipantsaftertheconference,oneAPAseniorstaffmemberwasinformedthat
MitchellandJessenwouldnotberespondingbecause[t]heyaredoingspecialthingsto
specialpeopleinspecialplaces.(emphasisadded)
AtleastoneAPAstaffmemberwasawareoftheirfirm,MitchellJessenandAssociates,at
leasttwoyearsbeforeitsexistencewasrevealedinthepress.Theemailsalsoindicatethat
APAstaffsoughttoobscureinformationaboutthesecontactsfromjournalistsinquiringabout
thecontentoftheJuly2003APA/CIA/RANDconferenceattendedbyMitchellandJessen,
andtheJuly2004meetingonEthicsandNationalSecurity.
d) The APA Concealed of Mitchells APA Membership
APAhasrepeatedlydeniedanyjurisdictionovertheactionsofMitchellandJessen,because,
APAhasclaimed,neitherJamesE.MitchellnorBruceJessenthetwoallegedinstigators
oftheCIAsenhancedinterrogationsprogramwere(orare)membersofAPA. 6Infact,
MitchellwasanAPAmemberuntil2006,whichincludesmuchofthetimeheallegedly
torturedCIAdetainees7andforatleastayearbeyondthetimethathewasfirstnamedinthe
pressastheoriginatorofcertainoftheabusiveinterrogationtechniques.Consistentwiththis
patternofconcealmentisthefactthatAPAdidnotalerttheTexasStateBoardofExaminers
ofPsychologists,whichwaslookingintoethicschargesfiledagainstMitchell,abouthispast
membership.
5DornSteele,K.,&Morlin,B.(2007,June29).SpokanepsychologistslinkedtoCIA:Congressprobesrole
incontroversialinterrogations.TheSpokesmanReview.RetrievedFebruary8,2015,from
http://m.spokesman.com/stories/2007/jun/29/spokanepsychologistslinkedtociacongress/
6http://www.apa.org/news/press/response/risenbook.aspx.
7USSenateSelectCommitteeOnIntelligence(2014).CommitteeStudyoftheCentralIntelligence
Agency'sDetentionandInterrogationProgram:FindingsandConclusions,p.17.
14
Organizingthemeetingsinwhichgovernmentneedsweresolicitedandreceived;
GuaranteeingthatAPAethicspolicyincorporatedspecificlanguagealigningwithand
supportinggovernmentneedsaimedatensuringthelegalityoftheCIAtorture
program;
ShepherdingthesepolicyrevisionsthroughAPAgovernance;and
PresentingmisleadinginformationtoAPAmembership,thepublic,andthepressthat
obscuredorfalsifiedthehistoryofcomplicitywithMitchellandJessen,theCIA
and/ortheBushWhiteHouse.
Theemailsdescribetherolesofseveralseniorstaffmembersintheseactivities,including
thedirectorsofatleastthreeAPAdivisions:Ethics(Dr.StephenH.Behnke),Science(Dr.
GeoffMumford,Dr.StevenBreckler),andPublicandMemberCommunications(Ms.Rhea
Farberman).Inaddition,theDirectorofthePracticeDirectorate(Dr.RussellNewman)is
reportedtohavetakenanactive,albeitconcealed,roleinguidingthePENSmeeting. 8
TwoAPABoardliaisonstothePENSTaskForceDr.GeraldKoocher(2006President)and
Dr.BarryAnton(2015President)purportedlyapprovedthepresenceofsecretobserversat
thePENSTaskForcemeeting.TheGerwehremailsdisclosetheidentityofoneofthese
observers;formerBushWhiteHouseadvisorDr.SusanBrandon.Theemailsalsoshowthat
theDeputyAPACEO,Dr.MichaelHonaker,wasinformedofthesecret2004meetingthat
laidthegroundworkforPENS.
TheAPABoardtookseveralactionsimmediatelyfollowingthePENSmeetingthatmadethe
PENSreportofficialAPApolicy.First,theBoarddecidedinanemergencysessiontoadopt
thePENSreportintotem,andthusbypassedtheCouncilofRepresentatives,whichwasto
meetafewweekshence.Additionally,theBoardproposed,andtheCouncilsubsequently
passed,anextraordinarypolicyrecommendationbasedonthePENSreport:thattheEthics
Committee,inconsultationwiththePENSTaskForce,themilitarypsychologydivision,and
otherAPAgroups,generatearesolutiononfurtherresearchrelevanttonationalsecurity,
includingevaluationoftheefficacyandeffectivenessofmethodsforgatheringinformation
thatisaccurate,relevant,andreliable,andpermittingresearchonindividualsinvolvedin
interrogationprocesses.Thisrecommendationwentagainstdecadesofmedicalethics
prohibitionsregardingresearchonprisonerswithouttheirconsent.
TheanalysispresentedinthisreportraisesseriousconcernsabouttheAPABoards
knowledgeof,involvementin,andresponsibilityforallowingtheUSgovernmenttounduly
influenceandchangeAPApolicyoninterrogations.Theresultingpolicyfacilitatedthe
continuationoftheBushAdministrationtortureprogram.Additionally,theBoardsrapid
codificationofthePENSreportsconclusionsintoAPApolicywasaccompaniedbyalitanyof
falseorobscurantistpublicstatementsissuedbyAPApresidents,Boards,andthepress
office.ThesestatementsdidnotaccuratelyportraythehistoryoftheAPAsconnectionwith
individualsandgovernmententitiesinvolvedintheenhancedinterrogationprogram.
8Newmanswife,psychologistColonelDebraDunivin(USArmy,retired),servedasaninterrogations
consultantatGuantnamo.See:http://www.propublica.org/article/asecretemailargumentamong
psychologistsabouttorture508
15
APACEODr.NormanAndersonisnotmentionedintheemailsreviewedinthisanalysis.
However,theongoinginvolvementinthesemattersofsomanyseniorAPAstaff,pastand
presentAPAPresidents,andeventheBoarditself(ofwhichheisanexofficiomember),
raisesquestionsabouttheCEOsknowledgeofandresponsibilityforwhatoccurredunder
hiswatch.Ataminimum,boththesuccessiveBoardsandtheCEOdemonstrablyfailedin
theiroversightresponsibilitiesfortheactivitiesofseniorAPAstaffduringthiscriticalperiodin
thehistoryofAmericanpsychology.
TheemailsshowthatUSgovernmentpsychologistsKirkHubbard(CIA)andSusanBrandon
(WhiteHouse)appeartohavebeenkeyfiguresinwhatwouldbecomethePENSprocess.
Theircollaborationappearstohavebegunwithcoorganizing,alongwithDr.GeoffMumford
(APA)andMr.ScottGerwehr(RAND/USG),ajointAPA/CIA/RANDconferencecalledThe
ScienceofDeceptiononJuly1718,2003.
HubbardsandBrandonsinvolvementcontinuedwiththesecretJuly2004Ethicsand
NationalSecuritymeetinganduptotheJuly2005releaseofthePENSTaskForceReport,
astheemailsshow.However,APAhasneverpubliclyacknowledgedorexplainedtheroleof
eitherindividualinthePENSprocess.NorhasAPAeverexplainedwhyUSofficialswith
directtiestotheCIA,toCIAinterrogationcontractorsMitchellandJessenandtheirfirm
MitchellJessenandAssociates,andtotheWhiteHouse,werepermittedtoinfluenceAPA
ethicspolicies.
TheemailsrevealthatBrandonandHubbardhadlongstandingprofessionalrelationships
withtheAPAandwithoneanother.TheyalsoindicateHubbardhadsomeformof
supervisoryrolerelatedtoMitchellandJessen(e.g.,directingthemtoattendthe2003
conference),althoughitisunclearifHubbardhadaformalcommandandcontrolrelationship
overthemattheCIA.9TheemailsfurtherindicatethatHubbardhimselflaterworkedfor
9Bloche(2011)reportsthatwhentheCIAleadershipmadetheinitialcalltosendMitchellandJessento
theirblacksiteprisontoinitiatethetortureprogram,themessagewentthroughHubbard.TheHippocratic
Myth:WhyDoctorsareUnderPressuretoRationCare,PracticePolitics,andCompromiseTheirPromiseto
16
MitchellJessenandAssociatesafterheretiredfromtheCIAin2005,soonafterthefirmwas
established.
APAofficialsalsohadaclose,multiyearworkingrelationshipwithHubbard,accordingtothe
emails.Thisstartedby2003,whenMumford,Hubbard,andBrandonworkedtogether
planningthatyearsdeceptiondetectionconference.Aspartofthisrelationship,APA
carriedsomeoftheCIAsexpensesfortheconferenceonanAPAcreditcardand,inone
case,APAprovidedcomplementaryhotelaccommodationstoHubbard(inapparent
contraventionofCIApolicy).10
TheemailsshowthatSusanBrandon,currentlytheChiefofResearchforPresident
ObamasHIG(HighValueDetaineeInterrogationGroup)attheFBI,11playedacentralrolein
thedevelopmentofthe2005PENSpolicy,perhapsevenmoredirectlythanHubbard.
BrandonwasanunacknowledgedobserverduringthePENSmeetingsandisreportedto
havecraftedaportionofthePENSreportrelatedtoresearch(seeFinding2belowfor
moreonBrandonsroleinPENS).
BrandonhadpreviouslyservedasavisitingseniorscientistintheAPAScienceDirectorate
(2001to2003),whereshehelpedsteermuchoftheassociation'sscientificoutreach
relevanttocounterterrorismincludingcoorganizingthe2003deceptionconferencewith
HubbardandMumford.12AfterleavingAPA,Brandonoversawfundingforresearchinto
affectanddeceptionattheNationalInstitutesforMentalHealth.Inearly2004,Brandon
joinedtheOfficeofScienceandTechnologyPolicy(OSTP)attheWhiteHouseasAssistant
DirectorforSocial,Behavioral,andEducationalSciences,whereshewasamemberofthe
CommitteesonScienceandHomelandandNationalSecurity.SheservedattheWhite
HouseuntilearlyJune2005,threeweeksbeforethePENSTaskForcemeeting.
July 20, 2004: Secret APA meeting on Ethics and National Security
OnJune3,2004,oneyearbeforethepublicationofthePENSTaskForcereportand
roughlythreemonthsaftertheAbuGhraibscandalwasmadepublic,GeoffMumford,APA
DirectorofSciencePolicy,sentasavethedateemailnotice,announcingaconfidential
meetingbetweenseniorAPAstaffandseniornationalsecuritypsychologistsandbehavioral
researchpersonnel,tobeheldonJuly20,2004(AppendixII,Email2).Thepurposewasto
discusstheroleofpsychologicalethicsinnationalsecuritywork.
RecipientsofMumfordsJune3savethedateemailincludedGerwehr,Hubbard,and
psychiatristDr.CharlesAndyMorganIII,MD.Morgan,aresearchpsychiatristatYale
UniversityMedicalSchool,iscreditedwithmajorfindingsontheeffectofSERE(Survival,
Heal(p.142).NewYork:PalgraveMacmillan.
10SeeAppendixII,Email10,fromMumfordtoHubbardonJune10,2004:Sorrytohearyourgettinggrief
abouttheroombuthaveIgotadealforyou...asaspecialpromotionforAPAmembers,whoalsoworkin
CIAOpsANDarewillingtosharetheirlastnames,Iwillpullthatpawltry(poultry?)roomfeeoutofmypolicy
budgetandputyouupforthenight.ThisistheveryleastAPAcandogiventheremarkablegenerosityyour
agencyhasshowninsupportingthewrkshop.
11IACP2014SessionSpeakerBios.(2014,January1).RetrievedFebruary11,2015,from
http://www.theiacpconference.org/iacp2014/public/SpeakerDetails.aspx?FromPage=Calendar.aspx
%20&ContactID=6191
12APAWorkswithCIAandRANDtoHoldScienceofDeceptionWorkshop.RetrievedAugust22,2015
fromhttp://www.apa.org/about/gr/science/spin/2002/02/alsoissue.aspx
17
Evasion,Resistance,Escape)techniquesonstresshormones.Thesetechniqueswere
reverseengineeredbyMitchellandJessen,bothformerlywiththemilitarysSEREtraining
program,intotheenhancedinterrogationprogram.BothMorganandGerwehrwere
workingparttimeforHubbardattheCIAatthetime(Email4andEmail14,respectively).
MumfordssavethedatealsowenttothenWhiteHouseOSTPpsychologistSusan
Brandon;psychologistDr.KirkKennedy,whowasthenwiththeDoDsCounterintelligence
FieldActivity(CIFA)andformerlywiththeCIACounterterrorismCenter(Email4);andFBI
psychologistDr.SteveBand,whowasChiefoftheFBIsBehavioralScienceUnitand
supportedcounterintelligenceoperationsasSeniorConsultingPsychologisttotheDoD
BehavioralScienceDirectorate.
FourtopAPAofficialswerecopiedonthesavethedate:Dr.MichaelHonaker,Deputy
ChiefCEO;Dr.StephenBehnke,DirectoroftheEthicsOffice;Dr.StevenBreckler,then
DirectoroftheScienceDirectorate;andMs.RheaFarberman,ExecutiveDirectorforPublic
andMemberCommunications(Email4).
TheGerwehremailsdonotcontainalistofrecipientsoftheformalinvitationtotheJuly20
meeting.However,inaJuly8email,HubbardstatedthatKennedywouldbeunableto
participatebecauseofaconflictingconferencethatKennedyandotherDoDshrinkswere
requiredtoattend(Email11).HubbardproposedthatheandKennedyconsultontheissues
thatconcernCIAandDoDinadvance,withHubbardrepresentingbothentitiesatthe
meeting.
Thisexchange,senttoGerwehrandMumford,suggeststhatthefinallistofinviteeswas
likelyquitesmall,andsimilartorecipientsoftheJunesavethedate.Theonlyaddition
appearstohavebeenDr.LindaDemaine,anAPAScienceFellowplacedinHubbards
office13attheCIAOperationalAssessmentDivision(OAD/CIA)(Email3).Including
Demaine,itappearsthatasmanyasfourparticipantsofthissmallmeetingwerethen
workinginHubbardsofficeatOAD/CIA.
Recentlydeclassifiedmemos,writtenbyGeorgeTenetatthetimetheAPAsEthicsand
NationalSecuritymeetingwasbeingplanned,addessentialcontextforunderstandingthe
seriouschallengetotheenhancedinterrogationprogramduringthisperiod.
OnthesamedaythatMumfordsenthissavethedateemail,GeorgeTenetsubmittedhis
resignationasdirectoroftheCIA(hecontinuedtoserveuntilJuly11,2004).Thefollowing
day,(June4,2004),apparentlyinresponsetopressuresonthetortureprogramandongoing
questionsregardingitslegality,hesuspendedtheuseofinterrogationtechniques,
enhancedorotherwise,untilfurthernotice.14Accordingtothememos,Tenetwas
respondingtopublicandcongressionalconcernaboutthetortureprogram,arisingfromthe
releaseoftheAbuGhraibphotosandotherpressreports.Inasecondmemo,Tenetpressed
theBushAdministrationtoreaffirmthattheprogramwaslegal.Hewasconcernedthatthe
OfficeofLegalCouncilhadnotmadeitexplicitlyclearthatthestressandduress
interrogationprogramdidnotviolateConstitutionalprohibitionsthattheUSusedtodefine
13HubbardsbiocanbefoundinEmail13.
14http://justsecurity.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/03/ExhibitMBushPolicyandLegalDirectiveson
Interrogation.pdf
18
cruel,inhuman,ordegradingtreatmentandsoughtadditionalassurancesthatthe
administrationstillsupportedtheprogram.
Inhismemo,addressedtoNationalSecurityAdvisorCondoleezzaRice,Tenetmadeclear
justhowhighthestakeswereduringthisperiodandhowmuchconflictappearstohave
arisenamongtheleadershippriortohisresignation.Tenetremindedthekeyplayersofthe
Administrationthattheyhadallapprovedtheprogram:Fromtheoutset,thepolicytoemploy
thesetechniquesagainstterroristHVDhasbeenreviewedandendorsedbysenior
Administrationpolicymakers;inAugust2002,theVicePresident,theCounciltothe
President,theAttorneyGeneralandyouwerebriefedandapprovedCIAgoingforwardwith
theProgramhewrote:Givenallthisincreasedscrutinynowuponusinthewakeof
treatmentofprisonersinIraqandallthequestionstheadministrationisbeingasked,I
stronglybelievethattheAdministrationneedstoreviewitspreviouslegalandpolicy
positionswithrespecttodetaineestoassurethatweallspeakinaunitedandunambiguous
voiceaboutthecontinuedwisdomandefficacyofthosepositionsinlightofthecurrent
controversy. 15
SoonafterMumfordssavethedatewassent,APAsEthicsDirector,StephenBehnkesent
anofficialinvitationtopotentialparticipants.Behnkeframedthepurposeofthemeetingasa
responsetotheAbuGhraibscandal:
DearInvitee,
Eventsinourrecenthistory,mostnotablytheterroristattacksofSeptember11,2001
andtheAbuGhraibprisonsituation,havestimulatedagreatdealofinterestinthe
ethicsofusingpsychologyandpsychologicaltechniquesastoolsinnationalsecurity
investigations.(Email3)
BehnkereassuredinviteesthattheAPAEthicsOfficewouldneitherassessnorinvestigate
thebehaviorofanyspecificindividualorgroup.Instead,BehnkeconveyedtheAPAs
deferencetotheneedsofpsychologistsintheintelligencecommunity:
TheEthicsOfficeandScienceDirectoratewouldliketotakeaforwardlooking,
positiveapproach,inwhichweconveyasensitivitytoandappreciationofthe
importantworkmentalhealthprofessionalsaredoinginthenationalsecurityarena,
andinasupportivewayofferourassistanceinhelpingthemnavigatethroughthorny
ethicaldilemmas,iftheyfeelthatneed(informalconversationswithpeopleinthe
fieldsuggesttheneedisthere).
BehnkefurtherguaranteedthatAPAwouldkeepthemeeting,itsparticipants,andtheir
contributionsconfidential:
Iwouldliketoemphasizethatwewillnotadvertisethemeetingotherthanthisletter
totheindividualinvitees,thatwewillnotpublishorotherwisemakepublicthenames
ofattendeesorthesubstanceofourdiscussions
15MemorandumfortheNationalSecurityAdvisor:ReviewoftheCIAInterrogationProgram.June4,2004.
RetrievedMarch3,2015fromhttp://justsecurity.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/03/ExhibitNBushPolicyand
LegalDirectivesonInterrogation.pdf.
19
Indeed,thesubstanceofthediscussionsandthenamesoftheattendeesattheJuly20,
2004meetinghaveneverbeendisclosed. 16Similarly,itisunknownwhetherfollowup
meetingstookplacebetweenAPAandCIApersonnel,althoughtheinvitationand
subsequentemailsrefertothepossibilityofsuchmeetings.
WhatisknownisthatthesamedayAPAleadershipwasmeetingwithtopnationalsecurity
psychologistsfromtheCIA,theofficialsatthehighestlevelsoftheBushadministrationwere
meetingtoaddressthelegalityoftheenhancedinterrogationprogram:InameetingonJuly
20,2004,NationalSecurityCouncilprincipals,includingthevicepresident,providedtheir
authorizationfortheCIAtouseitsenhancedinterrogationtechniquesTheyalsodirected
theDepartmentofJusticetopreparealegalopiniononwhethertheCIA'senhanced
interrogationtechniqueswereconsistentwiththeFifthandFourteenthAmendmentstothe
U.S.Constitution.17 TheFifthandFourteenthAmendmentstotheU.S.Constitutionwere
centraltotheU.S.interpretationofwhatconstitutedCIDT.18
June 2005: APA Presidential Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National
Security (PENS)
InFebruary2005,Mumford,Behnke,andBrecklerproposedtotheAPABoardofDirectors
thecreationofataskforcetoexploretheethicalaspectsofpsychologistsinvolvementand
theuseofpsychologyinnationalsecurityrelatedinvestigations.Theproposalstatedthat
thelistofmemberssuggestedforappointmenttotheworkinggroupwouldbeprovidedin
executivesession,thuskeepingthemsecret(seeAppendixIV).TheBoardapprovedthe
proposal;thenamesofthesuggestedmembersstillarenotpubliclyknown.
ThePENSTaskForceconvenedoveraweekendinJune2005andissueditsreportaday
later,whichtheBoardapprovedbyemergencyvote.ThePENSpolicyendorsedcontinued
psychologistparticipationinnationalsecurityinterrogationsunlikethepolicieslater
16APAalsointendedtokeepthesubstanceofthediscussionsofthePENSTaskForceconfidential.The
substanceofthosediscussionsarepubliconlybecauseonememberoftheTaskForcechosetoreveal
thesedetailsinspiteofAPAsinsistenceotherwise(APAinterrogationtaskforcememberDr.JeanMaria
Arrigoexposesgroupstiestomilitary.RetrievedMarch5,2015from
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/08/20/1628234).Itisnotable,also,thattheTaskForce
reportwaspublishedwithoutnamingitsmembers,editorsorcontributors,andthenamesoftheparticipants
werewithheldfrominquiringjournalistsandAPAmembersbyseniorAPAstaff[Benjamin,M.(2006,June
26).PsychologicalWarfare.RetrievedFebruary11,2015from
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/07/26/interrogation/print.htmlandBenjamin,M.(2006,August4).
Psychologistsgroupstillrockedbytorturedebate.RetrievedFebruary11,2015from
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/08/04/apa/].
17
18
The Office of Legal Council took their definitions of CIDT from the U.S. Reservations,
declarations, and understandings, Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment: (1) That the United States considers itself bound by the
obligation under Article 16 to prevent "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,"
only insofar as the term "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" means the
cruel, unusual and inhumane treatment or punishment prohibited by the Fifth, Eighth, and/or
Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States. Retrieved April 7, 2015 from
http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/usdocs/tortres.html
20
adoptedbytheAmericanMedicalAssociationandAmericanPsychiatricAssociation,which
prohibitedsuchinvolvementbytheirmembers.
InJuly2005,afterthePENSPolicyhadbeencompleted,MumfordwrotetoHubbard,thenof
MitchellJessenandAssociates,copyingMorganoftheCIAandseniorpsychologistsinthe
intelligencecommunity.MumfordthankedthemfortheirrolesinthePENSprocess:
Belatedthanksforyournoteandupdate...soundslikeyoursettlinginnicely...always
nicetoknowyourlockedandloadedandreadyforbear.Ithoughtyouandmanyof
thosecopiedherewouldbeinterestedtoknowthatAPAgrabbedthebullbythe
hornsandreleasedthisTaskForceReporttoday:
http://www.apa.org/releases/pens0705.html
Ialsowantedtosemipubliclyacknowledgeyourpersonalcontributionaswellas
thoseofK2[KirkKennedy]andAndyMorganingettingthiseffortoffthegroundover
ayearago.YourviewswerewellrepresentedbyverycarefullyselectedTask
Forcemembers(ScottShumate19amongthem).(SeeAppendixII,Email1)
(emphasisadded)
MumfordsmessagetoHubbard,Morgan,Shumateandothersexposestheintegralrolethat
CIAandDoDpersonnelplayedinthedevelopmentofthePENSPolicy.Inadditionto
allowingdirectpsychologistinvolvementininterrogations,thepolicyspecificallyendorsed
monitoringandresearchrolesinsuchinterrogationsinamannerconsistentwiththeroles
mandatedbytheOLCtorturememosandSecretaryofDefenseDonaldRumsfelds2003
WorkingGroupReport.Thelatterauthorizedthemilitaryenhancedinterrogationsbased
onthelegalrationalesetforthintheOLCtorturememos. 2021
Infact,theverycarefullyselectedtaskforcereferencedinMumfordsemailconsisted
heavilyofuniformedandcivilianpsychologistsfromthemilitary. 22Sixoftheninevoting
PENSmemberswereDepartmentofDefenseemployeesdirectlyinvolvedinnational
securityinterrogationpractice,supervisionand/orresearch.Inaddition,manyofthePENS
membersthemselvesheldcommandsorhavebeenlinkedtoinstallationswheredetainee
abusehadbeenreported.WiththemajorityofPENSvotingmembershipdutyboundtovote
asablock,theadoptionoftheTaskForcereportwasallbutassuredfromthebeginning.
19ScottShumate,whowasccdontheemail,wasoneofsixmilitary/intelligencemembersofthePENS
TaskForce.HehadbeentheChiefOperationalPsychologistfortheCIAsCounterterrorismCenterfrom
20002003.InMay2003,hemovedtotheDoDsCounterintelligenceFieldActivityUnitwherehewas
DirectorofBehavioralScience.AccordingtohisPENSbio,Shumateprovidesoperationalpsychological
supporttoseveralDefenseAgenciesthoughCIFA.DoD/CIFAisresponsibleforsupporttooffensiveand
defensivecounterintelligence(CI)effortstoprotectandretainsecurityoverDoDassets,resources,and
infrastructure.Histeamofrenownedforensicpsychologistsareengagedinriskassessmentsofthe
GuantanamoBayDetainees.
20ReportoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationPresidentialTaskForceonPsychologicalEthicsand
NationalSecurity.(2005).AmericanPsychologicalAssociation.RetrievedMarch8,2015from
http://www.apa.org/pubs/info/reports/pens.pdf.
21WorkingGroupReportonDetaineeInterrogationsintheGlobalWaronTerrorism:AssessmentofLegal,
Historical,PolicyandOperationalConsiderations(http://www.apa.org/about/policy/chapter3.aspxand
http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB127/03.04.04.pdf).
22Benjamin,M.(2006,June26).PsychologicalWarfare.RetrievedFebruary11,2015,from
http://www.salon.com/2006/07/26/interrogation_3/
21
Inaddition,theweekendmeetingwasattendedbynumerousunacknowledgedobservers,
whosepresence,accordingtoTaskForceChairMooreheadSlaughter,hadbeenvettedby
herselfandthetwoBoardliaisonswholaterbecameAPAPresidents,KoocherandAnton. 23
SecretobserversincludedBrandon,recentlyoftheWhiteHouse,Dr.MelGravitz,a
psychologistformerlyattheNationalSecurityAgency,andAPAstaffmembersNewman,
Mumford,Farberman,BrecklerandDr.HeatherKelly.24Itisunknown,asidefromBrandon
(seebelow),whethertheseobserverscontributedtothereport,whichTaskForce
rapporteurStephenBehnkewroteduringmeetingbreaksandintheevenings.Asthepublic
recordreflects,BehnkefinalizedtheReportanddistributedittotheTaskForcememberssix
hoursaftertheTaskForcemeetingended.
Finding 2
AUSgovernmentresearchscientist,whohadrecentlyservedas
PresidentBushsbehavioralscienceadvisor,isreportedtohavesecretly
draftedlanguagerelatedtoresearchinsertedbyAPAofficialsintothe
2005APAethicspolicyoninterrogations.Whiletheexactlanguageofthe
allegedcontributionisnotknown,thesectiononresearchalignedthat
policywiththethenclassifiedBradburytorturememos.TheBradbury
memosdirectedhealthprofessionalstoresearchandassessthe
supposedsafety,efficacy,andhealthimpactsoftheenhanced
interrogationtechniques.ThememoswereintroducedatatimewhenCIA
OfficeofMedicalServices(OMS)personnelwereprotestingtheexpanded
involvementofhealthprofessionalsinhelpingdeterminethelegalityof
thetechniques.
23According to the PENS Task Force listserv, PENS Chair Dr. Olivia Moorehead Slaughter wrote: "Please
be assured that all observers would be individuals who are there for professional reasons and no one would
be present that I, as Chair, and the two Board liaisons [Barry Anton and Gerry Koocher] have not approved."
See: http://www.propublica.org/article/a-secret-e-mail-argument-among-psychologists-about-torture-508.
24Accordingtoarecentbio,KellywasadvocateforbehavioralscienceonCapitolHillandinthefederal
agenciesandrunsAPA'sExecutiveBranchSciencePolicyFellowshipProgram.Withinmyspecific
advocacyportfolioarethepsychologicalresearchprogramswithintheDepartmentofDefense,theNational
ScienceFoundation,andtheDepartmentofVeteransAffairs.http://www.spsp.org/members/?id=23980319
22
APAofficialsallegedlypermittedthenNIMHandformerWhiteHouseadvisorSusan
BrandontocraftlanguageforthePENSreportrelatedtoresearchthatevidentlyappearsin
thefinalversion.IntheJuly5,2005emailthatMumfordwrotetoHubbard,Kennedy,
Morgan,Shumate,andothers,hestates:
IwaspleasedtohelpstafftheTaskForceandSusan[Brandon]servingasan
Observer(noteshehasreturnedtoNIMH,atleasttemporarily)helpedcraftsome
languagerelatedtoresearchandIhopewecantakeadvantageofthereorganization
oftheNationalIntelligenceProgram,withitsnewemphasisonhumanintelligence,to
findawelcominghomeformorepsychologicalscience.(Email1)
WhiletheexactlanguageandscopeofBrandonsallegedcontributiontothePENSreportis
notknown,thefollowingsectionoftheTaskForcereportistheonlyonetosubstantivelyand
specificallyaddressresearch:
Psychologistsshouldencourageandengageinfurtherresearchtoevaluateand
enhancetheefficacyandeffectivenessoftheapplicationofpsychologicalscienceto
issues,concernsandoperationsrelevanttonationalsecurity.
Onefocusofabroadprogramofresearchistoexaminetheefficacyand
effectivenessofinformationgatheringtechniques,withanemphasisonthe
qualityofinformationobtained.Inaddition,psychologistsshouldexaminethe
psychologicaleffectsofconductinginterrogationsontheinterrogatorsthemselvesto
explorewaysofhelpingtoensurethattheprocessofgatheringinformationislikelyto
remainwithinethicalboundaries.Alsovaluablewillberesearchoncultural
differencesinthepsychologicalimpactofparticularinformationgathering
methodsandwhatconstitutescruel,inhuman,ordegradingtreatment.
(AmericanPsychologicalAssociation,2005b,p.8)(emphasisadded) 25
TheTaskForcereportexplicitlyrecommendsapsychologistresearchrolein(a)evaluating
theefficacyofthetechniques,and(b)determiningwhatconstitutescruel,inhuman,and
degradingtreatment(CIDT).Thislattercategoryofabuse,alongwithtorture,isbanned
underdomesticandinternationallaw.Thereportalsoendorsesengaginginresearchto
determineifthereareculturaldifferencesinthepsychologicalimpactofinformation
gatheringaPENSeuphemismforinterrogationtechniques.
ThelanguagerelatedtoresearchinPENSappearstocallforpsychologistinvolvementin
monitoringinterrogations,inamannerconsistentwiththeMay2005memorandaissuedby
theDepartmentofJusticesOfficeofLegalCounsel(OLC). 26Theclassifiedmemos,signed
25ReportoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationPresidentialTaskForceonPsychologicalEthicsand
NationalSecurity.(2005).AmericanPsychologicalAssociation.RetrievedMarch8,2015from
http://www.apa.org/pubs/info/reports/pens.pdf.
26SenateSelectCommitteeonIntelligenceExecutiveSummaryoftheCommitteeStudyoftheCentral
IntelligenceAgency'sDetentionandInterrogationProgram.(2014).UnitedStatesSenate,pp.145146.
RetrievedFeb10,2015fromhttp://www.intelligence.senate.gov/study2014/sscistudy1.pdf
23
byPrincipalDeputyAssistantAttorneyGeneralStevenBradbury,soughttoprovidelegal
authorizationforthecontinueduseoftortureandotherformsofabusiveinterrogations.Like
theYoo/Bybeetorturememos,theBradburymemosalsosoughttoindemnifythose
involvedintheprogramfromfuturecriminalchargesoftortureorCIDT.
TheExecutiveSummaryoftheUSSenateSelectCommitteeonIntelligences(SSCI)report
onCIAtorture,releasedinDecember2014,providescrucialcontextforunderstandingthe
implicationsofthenewresearchandCIDTlanguageintroducedintothePENSprocess.As
theExecutiveSummaryshows,thislanguagewasdraftedduringaperiodofincreasedlegal
andethicalconflictsregardingthetorturetechniques,particularlywithintheCIAmedical
community.
Spring 2005: CIA Office of the Inspector General, CIA Office of Medical
Services, and OLC Bradbury Memos
TheExecutiveSummarydescribeshow,inthewinterandspringof2005,theOLCwas
analyzingthelegalityof13techniques,includingthe10techniquesoutlinedintheOLC's
August1,2002,memorandum,andadditionaltechniquesforwhichtheCIAsoughtOLC
approvalin2004.27ThisanalysisresultedintheBradburymemos,whichrestedthelegality
ofthesetechniquesontheparticipationofhealthprofessionalstomonitor,assessand
evaluatetheirsafetyandefficacy:
Thus,notechniqueisusedintheinterrogationofanydetaineenomatterhow
valuabletheinformationtheCIAbelievesthedetaineehasifthemedicaland
psychologicalevaluationsorongoingmonitoringsuggestthatthedetaineeislikelyto
sufferseriousharm.Carefulrecordsarekeptofeachinterrogation,whichensures
accountabilityandallowsforongoingevaluationoftheefficacyofeach
techniqueanditspotentialforanyunintendedorinappropriateresults.28
(emphasisadded)
InMay2005,theCIAassuredtheOLCthataccordingtotheexperienceofhealth
professionalsintheCIAOfficeofMedicalServices(OMS),theprogramhaseffectively
avoidedseverepainandsufferingandshouldcontinuetodoso. 29Itwasapparentlyonthe
basisofsuchCIArepresentationsthatBradburyissuedthememosdeterminingthatthe
techniquesweresafe,evenifusedincombination,effective,consistentwiththeU.S.
obligationsundertheConventionAgainstTorture,andthereforelegal.
However,theinformationtheCIAprovidedtheOLCabouttheuseofthetechniquesand
theirphysicaleffectsondetaineeswasinaccurate,incongruentwithCIArecords,
incongruentwiththeoperationalhistoryoftheprogram,andinconsistentwithCIA
practice,accordingtotheSSCIExecutiveSummary.30Moreover,accordingtotheSSCI
27https://www.aclu.org/files/projects/foiasearch/pdf/DOJOLC000844.pdf(DOJOLC000852).
28Bradbury,StevenG.(May30,2005).MemorandumforJohnA.Rizzo.Re:ApplicationofUnitedStates
ObligationsUnderArticle16oftheConventionAgainstTorturetoCertainTechniquesthatMayBeUsedin
theInterrogationofHighValuealQaedaDetainees,p.8.
http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/olc/legacy/2013/10/21/memobradbury2005.pdf.
29SenateSelectCommitteeonIntelligenceExecutiveSummaryoftheCommitteeStudyoftheCentral
IntelligenceAgency'sDetentionandInterrogationProgram.(2014),p.145.UnitedStatesSenate.
http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/study2014/sscistudy1.pdf
30SenateSelectCommitteeonIntelligenceExecutiveSummaryoftheCommitteeStudyoftheCentral
24
ExecutiveSummary,whenOMSreviewedadraftOLCopinioninApril2005,itobjectedto
beingaskedtoreviewandassessdatacollectedfromapplicationsofthetechniqueson
detaineestoascertaintheextentofharmandhelpOLCdeterminetheprospectivelegalityof
thesetechniques.EventhoughOMSalreadyhadmonitoringresponsibilitiesunderthe
August2002Yoo/Bybeetorturememo, 31OMSprotestedanyexpandedroleintheOLCs
legaljustificationfortheuseoftorture. 32
TheSSCIExecutiveSummaryshowsthatOMSpersonnelspecificallyprotestedbeingasked
todefinetortureandcruel,inhuman,ordegradingtreatment(CIDT),aroletheybelievedto
lieoutsidetheirmedicalandscientificexpertise.AnOMSmemodatedApril11,2005,three
monthsbeforethePENSmeeting,stated:
[s]implyput,OMSisnotinthebusinessofsayingwhatisacceptableincausing
discomforttootherhumanbeings,andwillnottakeonthatburden....OMSdid
notrevieworvetthesetechniquespriortotheirintroduction,butrathercameintothis
programwiththeunderstandingofyourofficeandDOJthattheywerealready
determinedaslegal,permittedandsafe.Weseethiscurrentiteration[oftheOLC
guidance]asareversalofthatsequence,andarelocationofthosedecisionsto
OMS.Ifthisisthecase,thatOMShasnowtheresponsibilityfordetermininga
procedure'slegalitythroughitsdeterminationofsafety,thenwewillneedtoreview
allproceduresinthatlightgiventhisnewresponsibility. 33(emphasisadded)
Additionalpressureontheenhancedinterrogationprogramandtheuseofmedical
personnelcamethroughtheCIAOfficeoftheInspectorGeneral(OIG).Atthetime,the
programfacedincreasingcallsforreviewandoversightfollowingdamagingrevelations
aboutthetreatmentofghostdetainees.34InMay2004,theOIGrecommendedthattheCIA
conductastudyoftheeffectivenessoftheinterrogationtechniques.InresponsetoOMS
concernsthatstudyingtheresultsoftheseinterrogationswouldamounttohuman
experimentation,theOIGissuedaclarificationinJanuary2005:
Ifeartherewasamisunderstanding.OIGdidnothaveinminddoingadditional,
guineapigresearchonhumanbeings.Whatwearerecommendingisthatthe
Agencyundertakeacarefulreviewofitsexperiencetodateinusingthevarious
techniquesandthatitdrawconclusionsabouttheirsafety,effectiveness,etc.,that
canguideCIAofficersaswemoveahead. 35(emphasisadded)
IntelligenceAgency'sDetentionandInterrogationProgram.(2014),p.420422.UnitedStatesSenate.
http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/study2014/sscistudy1.pdf
31http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/olc/legacy/2010/08/05/memogonzalesaug2002.pdf
32SenateSelectCommitteeonIntelligenceExecutiveSummaryoftheCommitteeStudyoftheCentral
IntelligenceAgency'sDetentionandInterrogationProgram.(2014),p.420.UnitedStatesSenate.
http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/study2014/sscistudy1.pdf
33SenateSelectCommitteeonIntelligenceExecutiveSummaryoftheCommitteeStudyoftheCentral
IntelligenceAgency'sDetentionandInterrogationProgram.(2014),p.420.UnitedStatesSenate.
http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/study2014/sscistudy1.pdf
34SenateSelectCommitteeonIntelligenceExecutiveSummaryoftheCommitteeStudyoftheCentral
IntelligenceAgency'sDetentionandInterrogationProgram.(2014),p.119125.UnitedStatesSenate.
http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/study2014/sscistudy1.pdf
35SSCIExecutiveSummary,p.126.http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/study2014/sscistudy1.pdf.Itis
worthnotingthattheOIGcautionsagainstadditionalguineapigresearchonhumanbeings,implyingthat
suchresearchondetaineeshadbeendoneinthepast.
25
In2005,theCIAappearstohavefeltthatitcouldsuccessfullyargue,basedontherationale
setforthintheOLCmemos,thatenhancedtechniquesdidnotviolatethelegalbanon
torture.However,therewasconcernfromseveralquartersthatthesetechniquesmight
violatethelegalbanonCIDT,adistinctlegalcategoryfromtorture. 36Infact,afterreviewing
twooftheBradburymemos,theCIAInspectorGeneralrecommendedinaMay26,2005
memothattheCIAseekadditionallegalguidanceonwhethertheenhancedinterrogation
techniquesandconditionsofconfinementfordetaineescompliedwithArticle16ofthe
ConventionAgainstTorture,whichbansCIDT.TheSSCIExecutiveSummarystates:
TheinspectorgeneralnotedthatastrongcasecanbemadethattheAgency's
authorizedinterrogationtechniquesarethekindsofactionsthatArticle16
undertakestoprevent,addingthattheuseofthewaterboardmaybecrueland
extendeddetentionwithnoclothingwouldbeconsidereddegradinginmost
cultures,particularlyMuslim.Theinspectorgeneralfurtherurgedthatthe
analysisofconditionswasequallyimportant,notingthattheinspectorgeneral'sstaff
hadfoundanumberofinstancesofdetaineetreatmentwhicharguablyviolatethe
prohibitiononcruel,inhuman,and/ordegradingtreatment. 37(emphasisadded)
FourdaysaftertheInspectorGeneralscriticalmemo,BradburyissuedhisthirdOLCopinion
examiningU.S.obligationsundertheConventionAgainstTortureandfurtherassertingthat
themethodswereeffective.ThismemosimilarlyreliedonalmostentirelyinaccurateCIA
representationsindeterminingthatthemethodsweresafe,effective,andthereforelegal. 38
Thus,atthetimeofthePENSmeeting,theCIAprogramfacedintersectinglegal,political,
andoperationalconflicts.TheOLCmemosauthorizingtheuseofenhancedtechniques
requiredmonitoringandevaluationoftheirsafetyandefficacy.Inaddition,theOIGwas
demandinganevaluationofthemethodseffectiveness,andofvariancesincultural
responsesthatmightconstituteCIDT.TheCIAmaderepresentationstotheOLCasifsuch
monitoringandassessmentwereongoing,yetOMSwasprotestingthebusinessofsaying
whatisacceptableincausingdiscomforttootherhumanbeingsasaprofessionally
inappropriateandunsuitablerole.OMShadapparentlyreacheditsethicallimitondoing
researchonhumansubjectstocauseand/ormeasureharm. 39TheresistanceofOMSstaff
tocollectingandprovidingdataonthetechniquesandguaranteeingthattheyweremedically
safeanddidnotconstitutetortureorCIDT,meantthelegaljustificationfortheprogramwas
injeopardy.
Inthislight,theadditionsBrandonapparentlycraftedintothePENSdeterminationofwhat
wouldbeethicalresearchpracticesforpsychologistscanbeseenasopeningthedoorfor
36UnitedNationsConventionagainstTortureandOtherCruel,InhumanorDegradingTreatmentor
Punishment.RetrievedMarch5,2015fromhttp://www.hrweb.org/legal/cat.html.
37SSCIExecutiveSummary,p.145.http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/study2014/sscistudy1.pdf
38SSCIExecutiveSummary,p.146.http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/study2014/sscistudy1.pdf
39Asimilarconcernhadbeenexpressed,accordingtotheSSCISummary,bytwoseniorCIAofficerswho
wereaskedtoconductareviewoftheenhancedinterrogationprogram,andwhoclaimedthatassessing
theefficacyofthetechniquescouldviolateFederalPolicyonHumanSubjectResearch.Thus,therewas
legitimateconcernthatOLCwasaskingOMStoplayarolethatmightconstituteillegalandunethicalhuman
subjectsresearchunderdomesticsandinternationallaw,includingtheNurembergCode.SSCIExecutive
Summary,FindingsandConclusions,p.13.
26
psychologiststofulfillafunctionthatOMShealthprofessionalswereresisting,reopeningthe
doortothelegallynecessarymonitoringandresearch:
Psychologistsshouldencourageandengageinfurtherresearchtoevaluateand
enhancetheefficacyandeffectivenessoftheapplicationofpsychologicalscienceto
issues,concernsandoperationsrelevanttonationalsecurity.Onefocusofabroad
programofresearchistoexaminetheefficacyandeffectivenessofinformation
gatheringtechniques,withanemphasisonthequalityofinformationobtained.
(emphasisadded)
ThePENSresearchlanguageevenexplicitlyaddressedCIDTconcerns,raisedbytheOIG:
Alsovaluablewillberesearchonculturaldifferencesinthepsychologicalimpactof
particularinformationgatheringmethodsandwhatconstitutescruel,inhuman,or
degradingtreatment.(emphasisadded)
WhereOMShealthprofessionalsresisted,onprofessionalgrounds,rolesinwhichthey
measuredtheharmorpotentialeffectivenessoftheenhancedtechniques,thePENS
researchlanguagespecificallypromotedsuchrolesforpsychologists,andrecognizedthe
inherentconflictwithmedicalethics.40ThepresumptiveeffectofOMSpushbackwhenasked
tofulfillthemandatesoftheBradburymemoswaspotentialunderminingofitslegal
rationalesandundoingprotectionsforthoseinvolvedinthetortureprogram.The
presumptiveeffectofAPAethicspolicychanges,reflectedinthePENSreport,wasthe
positioningofpsychologiststoprotecttheenhancedinterrogationprogramandthose
responsibleforitsauthorizationandimplementation. 41
ItisimportanttonotethatpreviouschangestotheAPAEthicsCodeappeartohavehelped
setthestageforpsychologiststoconductresearchonavulnerablepopulation(e.g.
detainees)withouttheirconsent.Whilesuchconducthasbeendeemedunethicalforhealth
professionalssinceNuremberg,theAPAethicscodehadbeenrevisedin2002inwaysthat
weakenedkeyresearchprotectionsestablishedbytheNurembergCode 42undercustomary
internationallawandtheCommonRuleunderUSFederalLaw.Onesuchchange,
apparentlydraftedintothecodeafter9/11,determinedthattherequirementtoobtain
informedconsentcouldbedispensedwithwhenpermittedbylaworfederalorinstitutional
regulations(EthicalStandard8.05:AmericanPsychologicalAssociation,2002b). 43
40Itiscertainlybeyondpsychologiststrainingorexpertisetoassesswhatdoesanddoesnotconstitutea
prospectivelegalstandardofcruel,inhuman,anddegradingtreatment.ThePENSreportnotedapotential
areaoftensionbetweenconductingresearchthatisclassifiedorwhosesuccesscouldbecompromisedif
theresearchpurposeand/ormethodologybecomeknownandethicalstandardsthatrequiredebriefingafter
participationinastudyasaresearchsubject.(EthicalStandards8.07,DeceptioninResearch,and8.08,
Debriefing)APAshouldidentifyandfurtherexaminetheethicaldimensionsofsuchtensions.
http://www.apa.org/pubs/info/reports/pens.pdf.
41ThisaddsanadditionaldimensionofpotentialmeaningtoMumfordscommunicationtoHubbardonJuly
5,2005(afterHubbardhadbegunworkingforMitchellJessenandAssociates):Inanycase,Ihopethis
findsyouwellandthatyouareaspleasedaswearewiththereport.(seeAppendixII,Letter1)
42ThefulltextoftheNurembergCodecanbefoundathttp://ohsr.od.nih.gov/guidelines/nuremberg.html
43Thislanguagewasapparentlyfirstwrittenintothe2002ethicscodedraftonMay19,2002.
27
Otherchanges,alreadybeingconsideredpriorto9/11butmadeAPApolicyinAugust2002,
includedpermittingpsychologiststomorereadilyemploydeception,restrictingonly
researchthatisreasonablyexpectedtocausephysicalpainorsevereemotionaldistress
(EthicalStandard8.07),andmoststrikingly,toforegotheirethicalobligationsaltogether,if
theseconflictwithlaw,regulations,orothergoverninglegalauthority(EthicalStandard
1.02).44
Summer 2005: APA Board of Directors Emergency Session, following PENS
InJuly2005,theAPABoardofDirectorsvotedinemergencysessiontomakethePENS
ReportofficialAPApolicy.TheBoardjustifiedthatvoteasaresponsetotheoverwhelming
interestinthereportandAPA'spositionontheseissuesfromthemedia,U.S.government,
andothersources45(emphasisadded)Atitsfirstscheduledmeetingafteradoptionofthe
PENSReport,inAugust2005,theBoarddevelopedrecommendationsforapprovalatthe
upcomingAPACouncilofRepresentativesmeeting.Amongtheserecommendationswas
oneregardingresearchonnationalsecuritydetainees:
CouncilrequeststhattheEthicsCommittee,inconsultationwiththePENSTask
Force,theBoardofProfessionalAffairs,theBoardofScientificAffairsandDivision
19[MilitaryPsychology],bechargedwithdevelopingastatementorresolutiontobe
forwardedtoCouncilforadoptionthatwilladdressfurtherresearchrelevantto
nationalsecurity,includingevaluationoftheefficacyandeffectivenessofmethods
forgatheringinformationthatisaccurate,relevant,andreliable.Thestatementor
resolutionshouldmakeclearthatsuchresearchshouldbedesignedtominimize
riskssuchasemotionaldistresstoresearchparticipantsandotherindividuals
involvedininterrogationprocesses,andshouldbeconsistentwithstandardsof
humansubjectresearchprotectionandtheAPAEthicsCode. 46
Thephraseminimizeriskssuchasemotionaldistresstoresearchparticipantsandother
individualsinvolvedininterrogationprocesses(emphasisadded)makesitevidentthat
theBoardwassupportingresearchandexperimentationaspartofnationalsecurity
interrogationsandthusondetaineesthemselves,ratherthan,say,laboratorysimulationsof
interrogations.TheBoardhereapparentlywasseekingtheCouncilsimprimaturforresearch
ondetainees,inordertofacilitateimplementationoftherecommendationsreportedlywritten
intotheresearchsectionofthePENSReportbyBrandon.CounciladoptedtheBoards
recommendationatitssemiannualmeeting,thesameweek. 47
http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/9202codecompare.pdf
44Forahistoryofthesechangespleasesee:http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/
45TheseminutesarecurrentlynotavailablefromtheAPAwebsite.Theywereobtainedbyrequestfroman
APAstaffmemberbutwerealsoretrievedFebruary26,2015intheInternetarchivefrom
https://web.archive.org/web/20140301000000*/http://www.apa.org/about/governance/board/05aug
bdminutes.aspx.
46https://web.archive.org/web/20140301000000*/http://www.apa.org/about/governance/board/05aug
bdminutes.aspx.
47https://web.archive.org/web/20101213014938/http://apa.org/about/governance/council/crminutea05.pdf.
28
Finding 3
TheAPAhadnumerouscontactswithCIAcontractpsychologistsDrs.James
MitchellandBruceJessenstartinginatleast2003,includingcontactsrelatedto
interrogationtechniques;atleastoneseniorAPAofficialwasinformedoftheir
clandestineroleattheCIArelatedtointerrogations;yetAPAhasconsistently
deniedsuchcontacts.
TheGerwehremailsdemonstratethatatleastoneAPAstaffmember,GeoffMumford,had
directcontactwithMitchellandJessen;contactthatincludeddiscussiononinterrogations
andinterrogationtechniques.Forexample,theemailsrevealthatMitchellandJessen,along
withotheroperationalCIApersonnel,werepresentattheinvitationonlyconferenceon
deceptiondetectionthattheAPAhelpedorganizewithCIAandRANDCorporationinJuly
2003.HubbarddescribedMitchellandJessentoMumfordandothersastheinvitationlist
wasbeingfinalized,andmentionedthattheymightbeunabletoattend.HewroteinaJune
13,2003email:
Ihave19peopledyingtoattendtheForum.11Agencyfolksofvariousilk,3FBI,3
DOD,and12formerDODspecialopsspychologistswhoareoncontracttoCIAand
arebrilliant[T]hetwocontractorsmaynotbeabletoattendastheygetcalledon
veryshortnotice.(Email12)(emphasisadded)
MitchellandJessenultimatelyattendedtheconference,whereAPAstaffdiscussed
interrogationsandinterrogationtechniqueswiththetwoCIAcontractorsandother
attendees.AccordingtotheunpublishedreportoftheconferencecomposedbyBrandon,
discussiontopicsincludedtheimportanceofsystematicdatacollectionduringinterrogations,
thevalueofdisruptingtheinterrogatedindividualssleepwakecycle,thevalueofincreasing
theirfearandanxiety,andspecificpotentialinterrogationtechniques.Atleasttwotechniques
wereproposedtoattendees,touseasaplatformfordiscussion:
Whatpharmacologicalagentsareknowntoaffectapparenttruthtellingbehavior?
Whataresensoryoverloadsonthemaintenanceofdeceptivebehaviors?Howmight
weoverloadthesystemoroverwhelmthesensesandseehowitaffects
deceptivebehaviors?48(emphasisadded)
Threedaysaftertheconference,BrandonwrotetoMumford,Hubbard,andGerwehr,
describingMitchellsextensivecommentsattheworkshop:
Kirk,IappreciatedhowJimMitchellkeptsaying(especiallyonthesecondday),this
48AlthoughthesescenarioswereoncepostedontheAPAwebsite,theyarenolongeravailable.A
cachedversionofthepagecanbefoundhere:
http://web.archive.org/web/20030802090354/http://www.apa.org/ppo/issues/deceptscenarios.html.The
scenariosarealsocontainedintheunpublishedreportoftheconferenceauthoredbyBrandon.
29
isanempiricalquestion;weneedtocollectdataanddostudies.Iknowthathewas
pointingpeopletowardsyouandaskingthemtosendproposalstoyou:wasthisa
goodoutcome?(Email5)
Immediatelyfollowingtheconference,Mumfordemailedtheparticipantstosolicitfeedback
andaskedHubbardtoprodthosewhohadnotresponded.OnAugust6,2003,Hubbardtold
MumfordthathewasunlikelytohearfromMitchellorJessen,implicitlyreferencingtheir
interrogationactivities:
Youwon'tgetanyfeedbackfromMitchellorJessen.Theyaredoingspecialthingsto
specialpeopleinspecialplaces,andgenerallyarenotavailable.(Email4)
InJune2005,HubbardannouncedtoMumfordandothersthathehadretiredfromtheCIA
andwasnowconsultingforMitchellJessenandAssociates:
[N]owIdosomeconsultingworkforMitchellJessen&Associates.Mostofyouknow
whoJimandBruceare,Ithink.(Email6)
TheGerwehremailsrevealrepeatedcontactswithMitchellandJessen,awarenessoftheir
CIAinterrogationwork,anddiscussionofthatwork,byatleastoneseniorAPAofficialwho
wasincludedinregularemailcommunications.ThisdirectlycontradictspastAPApublic
statements,includingAPAEthicsDirectorStephenBehnkescommentstotheSpokesman
ReviewNewspaperin2007:APAhashadnocontactwhatsoeverwiththeseindividuals
concerninginterrogationsorinterrogationtechniques.49
Inaddition,atleastoneseniorAPAofficial,Mumford,wasalsoawarethattwopastAPA
presidentsapparentlyhadmultiyearprofessionalrelationshipswithCIAsHubbard:Dr.
MartinSeligmanandDr.JosephMatarazzo(Email7andEmail15,respectively).Matarazzo
wasalsoaBoardmemberofMitchellJessenandAssociates. 50Thisinformationsuggests
thatAPAstatementsdefendingthemfromreportsofpossiblecomplicitywiththeCIAs
tortureprogramshouldbecloselyscrutinizedandsubjectedtofurtherinvestigation.
Finding 4
APAdidnotdiscloseDr.JamesMitchellspastAPAmembershipwhenit
releasedits2007statementinresponsetojournalistsrevelations
regardingMitchellsroleinabusiveinterrogations.NordidAPAinclude
suchinformationinitslettertotheTexasStateBoardofExaminersof
Psychologistsin2010;APAstaffsoughttoobscurepastcontactswiththe
CIAandwithMitchellandJessenandtheirfirm,MitchellJessenand
Associates.
49DornSteele,K.,&Morlin,B.(2007,June29).SpokanepsychologistslinkedtoCIA:Congressprobes
roleincontroversialinterrogations.TheSpokesmanReview.RetrievedFebruary8,2015,from
http://m.spokesman.com/stories/2007/jun/29/spokanepsychologistslinkedtociacongress/
50http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2007/aug/12/experthasstakeincrypticlocalfirm/
30
MitchellJessenandAssociates51employeesHubbardandMitchellwerebothAPAmembers
untilatleast2006.Accordingly,bothwereboundbytheAPApolicyonnationalsecurity
interrogationsduringtheperiodthattheCIAandWhiteHousecriticallyinfluencedAPA
ethicspolicydirectlyrelatedtotheirmission.52ItisunclearwhytheyresignedfromtheAPA,
butatleastoneAPAseniorstaffmemberwasawareofHubbardsAPAmembership,
accordingtocorrespondencebetweenMumfordandHubbard(Email16).
TheAPAfirstdisclosedMitchellspastAPAmembershiptoReutersinDecember2014,
followingthereleaseoftheSSCIExecutiveSummary,whichdetailedMitchellsandJessens
extensiveandlucrativeinvolvementintheCIAtortureprogram.However,APAwithheld
mentionofMitchellspastmembershipstatusina2010lettertotheTexasStateBoardof
PsychologicalExaminersbythenAPAPresidentDr.CarolGoodheart. 53
Atthetime,theTexasBoardwasintheprocessofreviewinganethicscomplaintregarding
MitchellsallegedinvolvementintorturewhileworkingfortheCIA.Itisnotknownwhat
relevanceMitchellspastmembershipstatusmayhavehadtothatinquiry,butitisclearthat
theAPAdidconcealthatinformationfromtheTexasBoard.
Similarly,whenpressreports(e.g.,VanityFairandSalon54)in2007firstrevealedMitchells
centralroleintheCIAprogram,theAPAwithheldtheinformationthathehadbeenan
Associationmemberonlymonthsearlier.55NotonlydidAPAomitmentionofMitchells
membershipinpublicresponsestotheserevelations,theAPABoardhaspubliclyasserted
theoppositeasrecentlyasOctober2014:thatneitherJamesE.MitchellnorBruceJessen
thetwoallegedinstigatorsoftheCIAsenhancedinterrogationsprogramwere(orare)
membersofAPA.56
APAonlyacknowledgedinDecember2014thatMitchellhadbeenamemberuntil2006;fully
sevenyearsafterpressreportsaboutMitchellandJessensroleindesigningtheprogram
werepublishedinthesummerof2007andnineyearsafterJaneMayerfirstmentioned
51In2005,JamesMitchellandBruceJessenformedMitchellJessenandAssociates,whichprovided
interrogationpersonnelandsupporttotheCIAtortureprogramuntilmid2009.AstheGerwehremailsshow,
KirkHubbardjoinedthecompanyasaconsultantshortlyafteritwasformed.
52UllmanPaige,R.(2007).ProceedingsoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationfortheLegislativeYear
2006(p.P.431,434).AmericanPsychologicalAssociation.
53Goodheart,C.(2010,June30).AmericanPsychologicalAssociationLettertoTexasStateBoardof
ExaminersRE:ComplaintFiledbyDr.JamesL.H.CoxRegardingDr.JamesElmerMitchell.Retrieved
February8,2015,fromhttp://www.apa.org/news/press/statements/texasmitchellletter.pdf
54http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/07/torture200707;http://www.salon.com/2007/06/21/cia_sere/
55InhisresponsetoEbansreport,StephenBehnkewrote:APAhasnoaffiliationwithtwopsychologists
whomMs.EbanportraysashavingsupportedreverseSEREengineering.Theseindividualsareneither
APAmembersnorhavetheytakenanypartinAPAsdeliberationsonthisissue.
http://www.apa.org/news/press/statements/vanityfairresponse.pdfItisworthnoting,inaddition,thatwhen
Mitchellwasfirstnamedinthepressin2005asaparticipantintheenhancedinterrogationprogram,he
wasstillamemberoftheAPA.InspiteofstatementsthatAPAwouldholdmembersaccountable,Mitchells
membershipwasnotdisclosed,norwasheinvestigatedatthetime.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2005/07/11/theexperiment3
56http://www.apa.org/news/press/response/risenbook.aspx
31
Mitchellinassociationwithenhancedinterrogationtechniquesin2005.Thiscorrectionofthe
historicalrecordcameonlywiththeBoardsannouncementoftheHoffmaninvestigation.
Inaddition,theemailsshowthatAPAstaffmembersincludingBehnke,Farberman,
Mumford,BrecklerandKellystrategizedabouthowtomanagetheAPAsresponseto
questionsregardingAPAscontactswiththeCIA,PENSandinterrogationsposedby
journalists.Inlate2006,KatherineEbanfromVanityFair,whosestorywouldlaterreveal
criticalinformationabouttherolesofMitchellandJesseninCIAinterrogations,approached
APAwithspecificquestionsaboutboththe2003conferenceanditsabusiveinterrogation
scenarios,andtheJuly2004meeting.57APAsinternalmemosrevealconcernsamongstthe
APAstaffaboutEbansquestions.Farbermanwrote:
GeoffQ3[askingabouttheconference]istheonewereallyhavetobecareful
about!!Doyouwhat(sic)todraftanswersandletSteveandIreview?(Email8)
Theemailsalsoshowthat,inthefaceofKatherineEbansresearchintoCIAinfluenceatthe
APA,GeoffMumfordraisedthepossibilityofinformingHubbard,thenknownbyMumfordto
beanemployeeofMitchellJessenandAssociates,oftheVanityFairreportersinquiries.Itis
unclearwhetherMumfordorotherAPApersonnelcommunicatedwithHubbardaboutthe
reportersquestions,buthisuptodateemailaddresswascirculatedamongthematthe
time.
RegardlessofwhetheranycoordinationbetweenAPAandMitchellJessenandAssociates
occurredinthiscase,itisdisturbingtonotethatAPAstaffapparentlyconsidered
coordinatingitsresponsetopressinquirieswithanemployeeofthisfirm.
Finding 5:
DespitesubstantialcontactbetweentheAPA,theWhiteHouseandCIA
officials,includingtheover600emailsnotedinthisreport,thereisno
evidencethatanyAPAofficialexpressedconcernovermountingreports
ofpsychologistinvolvementindetaineeabuseduringfouryearsofdirect
emailcommunicationswithseniormembersoftheUSintelligence
community.
Thereisnoevidenceinthe638emails,reviewedforthisanalysis,ofAPAofficials,including
theethicsdirector,expressingsurprise,concern,oroutrageregardingmountingevidenceof
abusesofdetaineesinCIAormilitarycustodyingeneral.Also,nospecificconcernsappear
tohavebeenexpressedintheemailsinresponsetonumerousreportsalleginginvolvement
ofpsychologistsinabusescommittedbyCIAandDoDdetentionandinterrogationstaff.
57http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/07/torture200707
32
Thereareonlyahandfulofinstancesintheemailswherepublicevidenceofdetaineeabuse
isevenmentioned.Inonenotableexample,intheemailsharingthenewlypublishedPENS
ReportandthankingHubbardforhiscontributiontothePENSprocess,Mumfordnoted
yesterdayspublicationofaNewYorkerarticleontheroleofpsychiatristsandpsychologists
(andothers)atGitmoSomeofAndy's[CharlesAndyMorgan]dataarereferencedand
JimMitchellisquoted.
MumfordwasreferringtoJaneMayersexpos,TheExperiment,inwhichshedocumented
theroleofpsychologistsandpsychiatristsinCIAandDoDinterrogationabuseofdetainees.
Mitchellwasrevealedasadesignerofthetortureprogram:
AccordingtoacounterterrorismexpertfamiliarwiththeinterrogationoftheAl
Qaedasuspect,Mitchellannouncedthatthesuspectneededtobesubjectedto
roughermethods.Themanshouldbetreatedlikethedogsin[psychologistMartin
Seligmans]classicbehavioralpsychologyexperiment58,hesaidMitchellsposition
wasopposedbythecounterterrorismexpert,whohadnotspenttimeatasere
school.HeremindedMitchellthathewasdealingwithhumanbeings,notdogs.
Accordingtotheexpert,Mitchellrepliedthattheexperimentsweregoodscience. 59
Thisconfirmswhatisstronglyimpliedintheearliercorrespondence(specialthingsto
specialpeopleinspecialplaces)thatMumfordwasawareofMitchellsroleininterrogation
abuses.InhislettertoHubbard,thenworkingforMitchellJessenAssociates,Mumford
expressednoconcernabouttheabusesMitchellwasallegedtohavecommitted;hesimply
describedthetimingofitspublicationasalittleawkward.(Email1)
Mumfordscommentisespeciallydisturbinggiventhat,atthetime,otherhealthprofessional
organizationswererespondingwithextremeconcerntocrediblereportsofhealth
professionalinvolvementinabusiveinterrogations(tantamounttotorture 60)bythe
InternationalCommitteeoftheRedCrossandotheragencies.TheAmericanPsychiatric
Association,forexample,wouldlaterprohibittheirmembersfromanyparticipationin
nationalsecurityinterrogationsbecauseofthesereports.
Incontrast,theAPA,ininternalandpubliccommunications,appearedunconcerned,
claiminginpublicthatthereportswerelikelyexaggerated. 61Thislackofexpressedconcern
mustbeunderstoodinacontextinwhichAPAappearstohavehadunique,directaccessto
theseniorofficialsandoperationalpersonnelwhowereatthecenteroftheprogrambeing
revealedduringthattimetoconstitutetorture. 62
58Seligmansubjectedhisdogstoinescapableelectricshocksinamannerthatresultedinwhathasbeen
termedlearnedhelplessness.
59Mayer,J.(2005,July11)TheExperiment.TheNewYorker.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2005/07/11/theexperiment3.
60http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/30/politics/30gitmo.html?_r=0.
61SeeforexampleAPAPresidentKoocherontheresponsestothePENSreport:
http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb06/pc.aspx.
62NotonlywasMumfordsemailaddressedtoHubbard,whowasatthetimeemployedbyMitchellJessen
&Associates,itwasalsoccdtoseniorpsychologistsintheDefenseDepartmentscounterintelligence
agency,amongothers.
33
ItmustalsobenotedthatMitchellwasanAPAmemberatthetimetheMayerpiecewas
published.WhiletheemailsdonotshowthatMumfordknewMitchellsmembershipstatus,it
isclearthatreportsthatMitchellwasallegedlyrecommendingadetaineeshouldbetreated
likeadogdidnoteliciteitheralarmorfurtherinvestigation.
34
Appendix I:
Sources of Data, Methodology, and Limitations
Sources of Data
Thisreportisbasedonadetailedanalysisof16emailsfromtheemailaccountsofScott
Gerwehr,aRANDCorporationresearcherandapparentCIAcontractor.Theywereselected
bytheauthorsfromalargercollectionof638GerwehremailsinvolvingAPApersonnel
and/orAPArelatedissueswhichareinMr.JamesRisenspossession,asdetailedinhis
2014bookPayAnyPrice:Greed,Power,andEndlessWar.Risensharedtheemailswith
thisanalyticteamwiththeunderstandingthatthoseselectedasmostrelevanttothescope
oftheanalysiswouldbereleasedalongwiththereport.
The16emailswereselectedfromthelargercollectionfortheirspecificrelevancetothe
natureandscopeoftheAPAsrelationshipwiththeCIAandtheGeorgeW.BushWhite
House.TheywereprovidedtotheauthorsbyRisenin2014fortheexpresspurposeof
conductingthisanalysis.63Inaddition,theauthorsdrewonopensourcedocumentsand
otherrelevantsourcesinthepublicrecord,whicharereferencedinfootnotesthroughoutthe
report.
ThefullGerwehrcollectionisinthepossessionoftheFBIPublicCorruptionUnit.Inaddition,
ithasbeentransmittedtoMr.DavidHoffmanandhiscolleaguesatthelawfirmofSidley
AustinLLP,pursuanttotheirindependentprobeofallegedcomplicitybetweentheAPAand
theBushAdministrationrelatedtoitsethicspoliciesoninterrogation. 64
Methodology
Thisanalysiswasconductedbyindividualswithexpertiseinthefollowingfields:clinical
psychology;researchmethodology;psychologicalandmedicalethics;humansubjects
researchlegalandethicalstandards;internationalhumanrightsandhumanitarianlaw;
detaineetreatmentinnationalsecuritysettings;andrelatedissues.
Theemailsinthisreportwerechosenbecausetheydemonstratedprobativevaluerelevant
toexaminingtherelationshipbetweentheAPAandUSgovernmentofficialswithlinkstothe
CIAandDoDtortureprograms.WhileissuesraisedinthisreportmayberelevanttoUS
publiccorruptionstatutes,theanalysismakesnolegaldeterminations.
63TheGerwehremailswerepreviouslyanalyzedbyNathanielRaymond,anauthorofthisanalysis,in2012
attherequestoftheFBIPublicCorruptionUnit.Horton,S.(2014,October18).SixQuestions:TheAPA
GrappleswithItsTortureDemons:SixQuestionsforNathanielRaymondNathanielRaymondonCIA
interrogationtechniques.RetrievedFebruary8,2015,fromhttp://harpers.org/blog/2014/10/theapa
grappleswithitstorturedemonssixquestionsfornathanielraymond/
64StatementofAPABoardofDirectors:OutsideCounseltoConductIndependentReviewofAllegationsof
SupportforTorture.(2014,November12).RetrievedFebruary8,2015,from
http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/11/risenallegations.aspx
35
Probativevalueinthisanalysisisdefinedashavingsufficientevidentiaryvaluerelatedto
thefollowingissues:natureandscopeofallegedcomplicitybetweentheAPAandUS
governmentofficialsrelatedtothe2005PENSPolicy;contradictionofpastAPAstatements
relatedtotheseissues;apparentprofessionalimproprietybyAPAand/orUSgovernment
officials;orcommunicationsrelevanttocoordinatinganyoftheactivitiesdescribedabove.
Atnopointdoanyofthe622emailsreviewedbytheauthorsbutnotselectedforcitationin
thisreportappeartocontradictthefindingspresentedinthisreport.Thetotalcorpusof638
emailscontainingcommunicationsinvolvingAPApersonneland/orAPArelatedissueshas
beentransferredtoMr.DavidHoffmanandhiscolleaguesatthelawfirmofSidleyAustin
LLP.Mr.Hoffmanandhisteamareconductinganongoingprobeofallegedcollusion
betweentheAPAandtheBushAdministrationrelatedtoitsethicspoliciesoninterrogation.
All16emailsintheAppendixhavebeenpresentedinfull,withoutanyeditsoromissions,
withthefollowingexceptions:
Removalofemailaddresses,telephonenumbers,andothercontactinformation
Removalofpersonalinformation,includingphonenumbers,email,office,andhome
addresses,etc.
Removalofthenamesoffamilymembersandotherindividualswhoappeartohave
norelationshiptotheissuesdeterminedbytheauthorstoconstituteevidentiary
value
Limitations
TheGerwehremailsreferencedinthisreportweresentfrom2003to2006.Theanalysisis
thereforelimitedtothistimeperiod.Additionally,therearelimitationsinherentinthefactthat
theemailsareasingledataset.Anyrelevantinformationnotintheemailsorinpublic
sourceswereunavailabletotheauthors.Further,anylinesofinfluencebetweentheBush
administrationandintelligencecommunityandtheAPAnotdiscussedwithGerwehrisnot
referencedinthissetofemailsandisthusnotinthisreport.
Finally,itisnotpossibletoascertainwhoelsemighthavebeenincludedinother,related
emailthreadsthatwerewasnotaddressed,copied,orforwardedtoGerwehr.Norisit
possibletoascertainwhomighthavebeenblindcopied(BCCed)onanyofthe
correspondence.Lastbutnotleast,becausesomeoftheemailsinvolvedforwarded
material,the authorscannotindependentlyverifytheinitialprovenanceofthosemessages.
36
Appendix II:
Primary Source Emails
37
From:"Mumford,Geoffrey"
To:"KirkHubbard","AndyMorgan","KirkKennedy","OvalOfficeSusan","Breckler,Steven
J.","Honaker,Michael","Behnke,Stephen","Farberman,RheaK.","ScottGerwehr"
CC:"SteveBand">
Subject:HoldJuly20thforAPAmeeting
Date:Thu,3Jun200415:41:230400
DearColleagues,
PleasepencilinJuly20thfrom12:002:00forourinitiallunchmeetingonEthicsand
NationalSecurityhereatAPA.I'mstillwaitingtohearfromSteveBandbutthiswastheonly
datethatworksforallofussofarandsoI'mkeepingmyfingerscrosseditwillworkfor
Steveaswell.I'llletyouknowonewayortheothersoonbutwantedtoatleastaskyouto
reserveitfornow.
Best,
geoff
38
isneeded,andhowbesttoprovideguidance(e.g.,throughethicsconsultations)thatmaybe
deemedappropriateorhelpful.Iwouldliketoemphasizethatwewillnotadvertisethe
meetingotherthanthislettertotheindividualinvitees,thatwewillnotpublishorotherwise
makepublicthenamesofattendeesorthesubstanceofourdiscussions,andthatinthe
meetingwewillneitherassessnorinvestigatethebehaviorofanyspecificindividualor
group.
Ourspecificgoalsforthismeetingareto:1)identifytheethicalissuesthatariseintheuseof
psychologyorpsychologicaltechniquesinnationalsecurityrelatedinvestigations;2)discuss
howtheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationandotherprofessionalandscientific
organizationscanserveasaresourceforpsychologistsandmentalhealthprofessionals
whoparticipateinnationalsecurityrelatedinvestigations;3)identifyresources,forexample
journalarticlesthatraiseandaddresstherelevantethicalissues,aswellasotherindividuals
withaparticularinterestorexpertiseinthisarea;and4)determinewhetherongoingcontacts
amongthegroupwouldbeuseful,forexampleadditionalmeetingstocontinueour
discussion,panelsorworkshopsatnationalconferences,orarticlesinjournalsor
newsletterstostimulatediscussioninthebroaderinvestigativeandintelligencecommunities.
TheEthicsOfficeandScienceDirectoratewouldliketotakeaforwardlooking,positive
approach,inwhichweconveyasensitivitytoandappreciationoftheimportantworkmental
healthprofessionalsaredoinginthenationalsecurityarena,andinasupportivewayoffer
ourassistanceinhelpingthemnavigatethroughthornyethicaldilemmas,iftheyfeelthat
need(informalconversationswithpeopleinthefieldsuggesttheneedisthere).
Pleaseletmeknowatyourearliestconveniencewhetheryouwillbeabletoattendthe
meeting.Inyourresponse,pleasebesuretoincludeyourfullnameandyourtitle(aswellas
anydietaryrestrictions).Ifyouhavespecificquestionsorissuesthatyouwouldliketoraise,
pleasefeelfreetosendthemtomebyemailinadvanceofthemeeting.Also,ifyouknowof
anindividualwhoyouthinkwouldmakeasubstantialcontributiontothemeeting,please
sendmethatperson'snameandcontactinformation.Finally,Iwillbesendingemail
messagestoyouasagroup;ifyoudonotwantyouremailaddresstoappeareitherinthat
listorinanattendancelistthatwillbepassedoutatthemeeting,pleaseletmeknow.
Thankyou,andIlookforwardtoourdiscussiononJuly20.
Sincerely,
StephenBehnke
Director,APAEthicsOffice
XXXXXXXXXX
39
Youwon'tgetanyfeedbackfromMitchellorJessen.Theyaredoingspecialthingstospecial
peopleinspecialplaces,andgenerallyarenotavailable.Ihavetomakeasmallapologyfor
BruceJessen.Hewasabitdistractedattheconference.Hisfatherwasseriouslyilland
ultimatelydiedbeforeBrucecouldgetbacktoseehim.
AndyMorganworkstwodaysaweekinmyorganizationandIseehimregularly.Infactwe
discussedsomeresearchprojectshecoulddoforustoday.I'llprodhimforformalinput.
Oneofmystaff,CarmelRosal,intendstocontactPettythisweekaboutsomeproposed
researchshewantshimtodo.I'llmentionheshouldprovideinput,aswell.
O'Sullivanleftmeaphonemessageaboutsomeworkwediscussedattheconference
(involvingEkmanthegrump!)Sheisonvacationorsomethingandnotavailableforemail,
shesaid.)FYI,IcontactedEkmanwhopromptlyreplied.
Kirk
40
Subject:
Date:June16,2005at8:53PM
To:AndyMorgan,CarmelRosal,DaveWatterson,GeoffreyMumford,gerwehr,Geoff
Maruyama,JudyPhilipson,Kirk(GOV)Kennedy,JonMorris,NicoleO'Brien,ScottShumate,
ShanaLevin,SusanBrandon
Cc:beverlykoloian,micheleOrlo,absigler,pbogatyr
(NoSubject)
HelloAll!
WearesortofmovedinandyesterdayIgotthecomputerbackupandrunning(Okay,
Nicole,Ihadsomeonedoitforme).OurhomephonenumberisXXXXXXXXXX,andbelow
istherestoftheinfo.IcreatedtheLLCfortaxpurposesandnowIdosomeconsultingwork
forMitchellJessen&Associates.MostofyouknowwhoJimandBruceare,Ithink.MostlyI
candothisfrommy"homeoffice"(read:deckoverlookingthelakeandmountains)butthey
justsentmeabunchofhitechcomputerstuffso,sadly,Iguesstheyactuallyexpectmeto
dosomerealwork!IwenttoDClastweekforameetingandnextweekI'llbeinSpokanefor
threedays(that'swhereJimandBruce'scompanyisheadquartered).ButmostlyI'll
telecommutefromhere.
XhadtogobacktoXtodosomefinalstufftosettleherX'sestate,andthenshewillspenda
coupleofweekswithherparentsattheirhouseinthesouthofX.ThethoughtofflyingtoX
fromMontanadoesnotthrillmemuch.
Wehaveseentwobearsonourpropertysofar.OneverylargeMamablackbearand
anotherblackbearthatappearstobeaboutayearold(I'mestimatingtheyearlingweighs
about100lbs.)Lotsofdeer,squirrels,rabbits(somuchforhavingagarden),andbirds,
includingapairofgreathornedowls,eagles,andosprey.
YesIboughtapickuptruck,achainsaw,andloggingbootstocompletemyMontana
Woodsmanensemble.Ofcourse,Ialreadyhadtheobligatorycollectionofweapons.
Ihopeallofyouarewellandwillcorrespondwithmeperiodically.Youhaveallbeen
wonderfulfriendsandcoworkers.
Regards,Kirk
KirkM.Hubbard,Ph.D.
41
IwishIcouldbuyeveryonelunchwithmyofficefundsbutwhiletheyhavenoproblem
wastingmoneyhere,theyjustwon'tallowreimbursementforalousylunch.
Myofficedirectorwouldnotevenreimbursemeforcirca$100bucksforCIAlogotshirtsand
ballcapsforMartySeligman'sfivekids!He'shelpedoutalotoverthepastfouryearssoI
thoughtthatwastheleastIcoulddo.Butno,hastocomeoutofmyownpocket!Andpeople
wonderwhyIamsocynical!
Kirk
42
CentersofExcellence.Further,UnderSecretaryCohenhasdemonstratedhiscommitment
andraisedtheprofileofbehavioralsciencebyincludingaHumanFactorsDivisioninthe
reorganizationoftheDHSScienceandTechnologyDirectorate.
For#2,IveusedSteveB.ssuggestedlanguage:
ThemeetingIreferredtowasheldJuly20,2004butitwasaveryinformalmeeting,atwhich
nominuteswerekept,thatposedthequestionofwhetherthecurrentAPAEthicsCodewas
adequatetorespondtoissuesthatmightemergeforpsychologistsworkingforinvestigative
agencies.Iwouldstressthatthemeetingaddressedpsychologistsworkingfordomesticlaw
enforcementaswellinnationalsecuritysettings,andinfactwasstimulatedbyaseriesof
articlesintheJournaloftheAmericanAcademyofPsychiatryandLawthatexploredtherole
ofmentalhealthprofessionalsworkingfortheFBI.Thediscussionfocusedonwhether
domesticlawenforcementofferedagoodmodelfornationalsecurityworkintermsofthe
ethicalanalyses,andexaminedtwoethicalstandardsfromtheAPAEthicscodethatare
relevanttoassessingindividualswhoarenotconsideredclientsofthepsychologist.
For#3itseemscleartomethatshesreadthesummaryIprovidedforSPIN:
http://www.apa.org/ppo/spin/703.html
aswellastheactualscenariosweusedaspointsofdiscussion:
http://www.apa.org/ppo/issues/deceptscenarios.html
becausethatswhereshegotthequestionaboutpharmaceuticaltruthtellingagents.
TheSPINpiecewouldseemtoanswerallherquestionssoImnotsurewhattoextractfrom
this?Itmightbegoodtoremindherthattheonetopicshefocusedoninherquestionstome
(pharmaceuticaltruthtellingagents)wasoneofalonglistoftopicsthatweremeantto
stimulatediscussion.
HerestheSPINpieceIwrote:
OnJuly1718,RANDCorp.andtheAPAhostedaworkshopentitledthe"Scienceof
Deception:IntegrationofPracticeandTheory"withgenerousfundingfromtheCentral
IntelligenceAgency(CIA).Theworkshopprovidedanopportunitytobringtogether
individualswithaneedtounderstandandusedeceptionintheserviceofnational
defense/securitywiththosewhoinvestigatethephenomenaandmechanismsofdeception.
MeetingatRANDheadquartersinArlington,VA,theworkshopdrewtogetherapproximately
40individualsincludingresearchpsychologists,psychiatrists,neurologistswhostudyvarious
aspectsofdeceptionandrepresentativesfromtheCIA,FBIandDepartmentofDefensewith
interestsinintelligenceoperations.Inaddition,representativesfromtheWhiteHouseOffice
ofScienceandTechnologyPolicyandtheScienceandTechnologyDirectorateofthe
DepartmentofHomelandSecuritywerepresent.Followingbriefintroductionsandwelcoming
remarksfromKevinO'Connell,DirectoroftheIntelligencePolicyCenterwithinRAND's
NationalSecurityResearchDivision,workshopparticipantsdividedintobreakoutgroupsto
discussthematicscenariosfollowingaformatusedinapreviousconferenceon
counterterrorismheldattheFBIAcademyinFebruary2002.
Thescenariosdealtbroadlywithissuessuchasembassywalkininformants,threat
assessment,intelligencegathering,andlawenforcementinterrogationanddebriefing.
Participantswerepromptedinadvancetothinkaboutresearchissuesandpractical
43
considerationstheywantedthebroadergrouptoconsider.Acrossthetwodays,therewere
anumberofthoughtprovokingdiscussionssuggestingtheneedtodevelopbothshortterm
andlongtermresearchprogramsondeception.Workshopparticipantswillreviewtranscripts
fromthemeetingtowardthegoalofdevelopingamoredetailedsummarysuitableforpublic
consumption.
MyprofoundthankstobothScottGerwehr,AssociatePolicyAnalystatRAND,andSusan
Brandon,ProgramOfficerforAffectandBiobehavioralRegulationatNIMH,whojointly
conceivedofthisprojectwhileSusanwasstillSeniorScientisthereatAPA.Specialthanks
toKirkHubbard,ChiefoftheResearch&AnalysisBranch,OperationalAssessmentDivision
oftheCIA,forgenerousfinancialsupportandforrecruitingtheoperationalexpertiseandto
RANDforprovidingconferencefacilitiesandotherlogisticalsupport.
SoIcouldjustreiterateinformationfromSPINbecauseitsalreadyinthepublicdomain
(ScottandKirkarenolongeraffiliatedwithRANDandCIArespectivelyandSusanhasalso
leftNIMH)?Whatdoyouthink?
geoff
***
From:Kelly,Heather
Sent:Friday,November03,20069:59AM
To:Mumford,Geoff;Behnke,Stephen;Farberman,Rhea
Cc:Breckler,Steve;Kobor,Pat;Studwell,Karen
Subject:RE:QuestionsforVanityFairarticle
Geoff:
Thiswasthemaintopicofourconversation,andperRhea,Italkedalotaboutpsychological
scientistswhoaresupportedbythemilitarylabsandthecoolkindsofresearchtheydo
(nightgoggles,testing,sleepcycles,cockpitdisplays,etc.),whichIthinkboredhertotears.I
alsodismissedtheideaaboutushavingsomeamazingamountofinfluencewithDoD(Rhea
suggestedthisispartofheragenda)bynamingsomethingswedlikethemtochangebut
theyhavent,likeDontAsk/DontTell/DontPursue.Inotedthatfundingforpsychological
researchwithinDoDpost9/11islargelyunchangedinamount,althoughmaybetherehave
beensomeshiftsinfocus.
Thisisthepartshewasinterestedintalkingtoyouabout,sinceIsaidyoucoveredDHS
whensheaskedaboutitandthecenters.Soifitsoundsgoodtoallofyou,Ithinkyouonly
needtoaddressthatpartofQ1DHSspecificallysinceyouprobablydontwanttosay
somethingspecificaboutthemilitarythatmightcontradictwhateverIsaid,even
unintentionally.
HeatherO'BeirneKelly,PhD
SeniorLegislative&FederalAffairsOfficer
SciencePublicPolicyOffice
AmericanPsychologicalAssociation
750FirstStreet,NE,5thFloor
44
Washington,DC20002
phoneXXXXXXXXXX
faxXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
***
From:Mumford,Geoff
Sent:Friday,November03,20067:46AM
To:Behnke,Stephen;Farberman,Rhea
Cc:Breckler,Steve;Kelly,Heather;Kobor,Pat;Studwell,Karen
Subject:RE:QuestionsforVanityFairarticle
Thatsfinewithme.Heather,itsoundslikethefirstpartofquestion#1iswhatshechatted
withyouabout.Itsprettybroadbutmaybeyoucanletmeknowifyoudidinfacttalkwithher
aboutthatandwhatyousaid?Thanks.
geoff
***
From:Behnke,Stephen
Sent:Thursday,November02,20069:06PM
To:Farberman,Rhea;Mumford,Geoff
Cc:Breckler,Steve
Subject:RE:QuestionsforVanityFairarticle
Idwholeheartedlysupporttheideathatwetaketheweekend,andsendherresponsesthat
wereverycomfortablewith.IllbeinPAataworkshoptomorrow;Ifanythingcomesupmy
cellisXXXXXXXXXX.
***
From:Farberman,Rhea
Sent:Thursday,November02,20068:53PM
To:Mumford,Geoff;Behnke,Stephen
Cc:Breckler,Steve
Subject:RE:QuestionsforVanityFairarticle
HiGeoffIlikeStevesresponseto#2andagreethatyouranswerscanbefairlybrief,in
factshouldbe.Imsigningofffortheeveningbutwillbebackonemaillatetomorrow(Friday)
afternoon.IthinkitsveryreasonablethatwetaketheweekendandreplyonMonday.
Thankyou.
Rhea
***
From:Mumford,Geoff
45
Sent:Thursday,November02,20061:31PM
To:Behnke,Stephen;Farberman,Rhea
Cc:Breckler,Steve
Subject:RE:QuestionsforVanityFairarticle
SteveandRhea,
I'llworkon1and3andgetbacktoyou.I'mataBSAretreattodaybutwilltrytodraft
answersbythisevening.
geoff
***
From:Behnke,Stephen
Sent:Thu11/2/200612:42PM
To:Farberman,Rhea;Mumford,Geoff
Subject:RE:QuestionsforVanityFairarticle
Imightalsomentionthattherewerenorecommendationsoranythingofthatnaturethat
cameoutofthemeeting
***
From:Behnke,Stephen
Sent:Thursday,November02,200612:31PM
To:Farberman,Rhea;Mumford,Geoff
Subject:RE:QuestionsforVanityFairarticle
Geoff/Rhea,
Giventhefactthatshehasjustprovidedthesequestions,andtheveryshorttimeframe,I
dontthinkweshouldfeelobligatedtoprovidedetailedorextensiveresponses;Ithinkwe
canbejudiciousandlethercomebacktousifshewants.
ThetwoofyouaremuchbetterequippedthanItorespondtoquestions1and3.
Intermsofquestion2,Iwouldsaysimplythatthiswasaveryinformalmeeting,atwhichno
minuteswerekept,thatposedthequestionofwhetherthecurrentAPAEthicsCodewas
adequatetorespondtoissuesthatmightemergeforpsychologistsworkingforinvestigative
agencies.Iwouldstressthatthemeetingaddressedpsychologistsworkingfordomesticlaw
enforcementaswellinnationalsecuritysettings,andinfactwasstimulatedbyaseriesof
articlesintheJournaloftheAmericanAcademyofPsychiatryandLawthatexploredtherole
ofmentalhealthprofessionalsworkingfortheFBI.Thediscussionfocusedonwhether
domesticlawenforcementofferedagoodmodelfornationalsecurityworkintermsofthe
ethicalanalyses,andexaminedtwoethicalstandardsfromtheAPAEthicscodethatare
relevanttoassessingindividualswhoarenotconsideredclientsofthepsychologist.(By
thispointsheshouldbeasleep)
46
Steve
***
From:Farberman,Rhea
Sent:Thursday,November02,200611:37AM
To:Mumford,Geoff;Behnke,Stephen
Subject:FW:QuestionsforVanityFairarticle
GeoffQ3istheonewereallyhavetobecarefulabout!!Doyouwhattodraftanswersand
letSteveandIreview?
Rhea
***
From:KatherineEban
Sent:Thursday,November02,200611:16AM
To:Mumford,Geoff
Cc:Farberman,Rhea
Subject:QuestionsforVanityFairarticle
Dr.Mumford,
Thankyouforagreeingtotakesomequestionsfromme.BelowIhaveoutlinedsome
questionsandtopicareas.Ofcourse,Iwouldappreciateachancetospeakwithyouin
personandcanbereachedatanytimeatxxxxxxxxxx,oronmycellphoneatxxxxxxxxxx.
Otherwise,Iwilllookforwardtogettingwrittenanswersfromyouatyourearliest
convenience.
Allbest,KatherineEban.
Canyoudescribetherelationshipbetweenpsychologistsandthemilitarygenerally,andhow
itmayhavechangedafter9/11?Canyoudescribetheroleofpsychologistsinthewaron
terrorandinassistingwithhomelandsecurity?Hasfundingforpsychologicalresearchand
practicethatfocusesonhomelandsecurityandterrorismincreased?Ifso,isitpossibleto
estimatebyhowmuch?
InapublicpolicyupdateyouwroteabouttheAPAssupportfortheMcCainamendment,you
describeameetingthatmayhaveledtothecreationofthePENStaskforce.Specifically,
youwrote:
Morethanayearandahalfago,APAheldafirstofitskindmeetingatitsheadquartersin
Washington,D.C.,tobegindiscussionsabouttheextenttowhichtheAPAEthicsCode
adequatelyservedpsychologistsoperatinginnationalsecuritysettings.Themeetingwas
heldinresponsetoAPAmembersfromthesecommunitieswhohadapproachedAPA,
seekinghelpindefiningethicalguidelinestogoverntheirwork.Themeetingwasexploratory
innatureandbroughttogetherauniquegroup,includingrepresentativesofothermental
healthassociationsaswellasbehavioralscientistsandoperationalpersonnelworkinginthe
47
lawenforcementandintelligencecommunities.ThatseminalmeetingledAPAtobeginto
exploretheextenttowhichitsEthicsCodespoketotheuniquecircumstancesthat
sometimessurroundgatheringinformationrelatedtonationalsecurity.ThePresidentialTask
ForceonPsychologicalEthicsandNationalSecurity(thePENSTaskForce)exploredthese
questionsingreaterdepth.
Canyoutellmethedateofthatmeeting,whoattendedandwhatmorespecificallywas
discussed?Doyouhavealistoftheparticipants,minutesfromthemeetingoranyother
documentationfromitsuchasanagendathatyouwouldbeabletoshare?
3.InJuly2003,theAPAandtheRANDcorp.cohostedaworkshopentitled,Scienceof
Deception:IntegrationofPracticeandTheory,whichwasfundedbytheCIA.Canyoutell
mewhoinitiatedtheworkshopandprovidealittlemoredescriptionoftheevent?Topics
includedtheuseofpharmaceuticaltruthtellingagents.Canyoutellmewholedthat
workshopandwhatconclusiontheyarrivedat?
KatherineEban
48
probablywon'tcareorthinkaboutaperdiem(butyetanothergenerousthoughtthatis
appreciatedbythoseofusontheplanningend).
ThankstoyoubothfordiscussingRicky'sparticipation...I'lltrytogetintouchwiththehold
outstomorrowandseewherewestandandifnumbers/budgetpermit,I'llextendtheinvite.
Kirk,Ihaven'theardbackfromAndyMorganastorescheduling,butifyouholdanysway
withwhoeverisprovidinghisorientation,pleaseweighin...especiallygiventheIraqcontext,I
thinkhisparticipationwouldbeespeciallytopical,timelyandthoughtprovoking.
ThanksAll,
geoff
Email 10: Mumford, June 27, 2004; Hubbard, June 27, 2004
From:Mumford,Geoffrey
Subject:RE:Dinneronthe17th
Date:June27,20035:44:31PMEDT
To:kirkhubbard
Cc:ScottGerwehr(RAND),SusanBrandon(NIH/NIMH)
Kirk,
IconcurandonlyjustnowsawScott'sreference...gladhe'sonourside;)
SorrytohearyourgettinggriefabouttheroombuthaveIgotadealforyou...asaspecial
promotionforAPAmembers,whoalsoworkinCIAOpsANDarewillingtosharetheirlast
names,Iwillpullthatpawltry(poultry?)roomfeeoutofmypolicybudgetandputyouupfor
thenight.ThisistheveryleastAPAcandogiventheremarkablegenerosityyouragency
hasshowninsupportingthewrkshop.
Enjoytheweekend!
geoff
OriginalMessage
From:kirkhubbard
Sent:Friday,June27,20035:29PM
To:ScottGerwehr(RAND);SusanBrandon(NIH/NIMH);GeoffMumford(APA)
Subject:Re:Dinneronthe17th
Therestaurantsoundsgreat.Lettertoparticipantslooksgreat.Scott'ssenseofhumoris
finelyhoned,aswell.Geoff,IamwonderingifScottisonsomesortofsubstance....ormaybe
needstobe?
Alas,thegov'tbureacracyhasbestedme.Ican'tstayinthehotelwithyouguyswithout
violatingahalfdozenregulations.IfiguredIcouldfudgeit,butthepenaltyisgreaterthanI
realized!Icanspendseveral
milliondollarswithnoquestionsasked,butifIstayathotelfor$300bucksIwouldrankright
intherewithpedophiles.
49
Hopeallofyouhaveagoodweekend.
Kirk
50
contractorsmaynotbeabletoattendastheygetcalledonveryshortnotice.Somyfinal
countisanywherefrom17to19atthispoint.
Hopethisisokay.
51
willtrytogetaconferenceroombefittingsuchanaugustgroup.
RememberthatIwillbeonleavefromAug1631.
Iamafraidtoeveninquireaboutthecommentof"withenoughwives,whoneedsguns"Don't
wanttogothere.Iwillaskmynewdeputy,Scott,tofindoutwhatSusanmeansandthen
explainittoGeoffandI.
Hopeallofyouarewell.Lookforwardtoseeingyouagain.
P.S.IhavebeenincontactwithEkmanandheiseagertodoworkforus.
AlsohaveadialoguegoingwithCharlesBondnow.Theconferencehasopenedsomedoors
already!
Kirk
52
From:"Mumford,Geoffrey
To:"'Brandon,Susan(NIH/NIMH)'"
CC:"ScottGerwehr(Email)""KirkHubbard(Email)"Subject:RE:meettheeveningofthe
16th?
Date:Tue,8Jul200315:13:540400
IsecondthatandwonderifScottcouldthinkofaniceplaceforustoeat
(APAcanpayifthatsweetensthedeal).
geoff
53
Appendix III:
Significance of Psychologists Role in CIA Interrogation
Program
Intheaftermathofthe9/11attacks,thegovernmentoftheUnitedStatessoughtintelligence
frompresumedalQaedaandothercaptivesusingenhancedinterrogationtechniques
(EITs)thatinothercontextshadpreviouslybeencondemnedastorturebyboththeUSand
internationalorganizations.Aspectsoftheenhancedinterrogationprogramhavesince
beendenouncedastorturebyPresidentObama;bySusanCrawford,theofficialplacedin
chargeoftheGuantnamodetaineetrialsbyPresidentBush65;and,afterathorough
investigation,bythebipartisanConstitutionProjectDetaineeTreatmentTaskForce 66.
Forthepurposesofunderstandingtheconsequentialnatureofthematerialpresentedinthis
report,itisimportanttonotethatmultipleaccountsofsevereabusesofprisonersheldbythe
CIAsurfacedinthemainstreampressasearlyasDecember2002,whenDanaPriestand
BartonGellmandescribedthetreatmentmetedoutatCIAfacilitiesintheWashingtonPost:67
ThosewhorefusetocooperateinsidethissecretCIAinterrogationcenterare
sometimeskeptstandingorkneelingforhours,inblackhoodsorspraypainted
goggles,accordingtointelligencespecialistsfamiliarwithCIAinterrogationmethods.
Attimestheyareheldinawkward,painfulpositionsanddeprivedofsleepwitha24
hourbombardmentoflightssubjecttowhatareknownas"stressandduress"
techniques.
PriestandGellmanalsoquotedaCIAofficialinvolvedindetaineetreatment:Ifyoudon't
violatesomeone'shumanrightssomeofthetime,youprobablyaren'tdoingyourjob.I
don'tthinkwewanttobepromotingaviewofzerotoleranceonthis.Thatwasthewhole
problemforalongtimewiththeCIA.
Similarly,afewmonthslater,inMarch2003,JessBravinandGaryFieldsreportedinthe
WallStreetJournalthatmilitaryandCIAinterrogators:68
canalsoplayontheirprisoners'phobias,suchasfearofratsordogs,ordisguise
themselvesasinterrogatorsfromacountryknowntousetortureorthreatentosend
theprisonertosuchaplace.Prisonerscanbestripped,forciblyshavedanddeprived
ofreligiousitemsandtoiletries.
BravinandFieldsalsopointedoutthepermissivenessoftheUSlegalinterpretationof
torture:
65http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/01/13/AR2009011303372_pf.html
66http://detaineetaskforce.org/report/
67http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2006/06/09/AR2006060901356_pf.html
68http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1046732825540976880
54
Butbecausethetreatyhasnoenforcementmechanism;so,asapracticalmatter,
you'rejustlimitedbyyourimagination,aU.S.lawenforcementofficialsays.In
otherwords,aslongasthepainandsufferingaren'tsevere,it'spermissibletouse
physicalforceandtocause"discomfort,"assomeU.S.interrogatorseuphemistically
putit.Amongthetechniques:makingcaptiveswearblackhoods,forcingthemto
standinpainful"stresspositions"foralongtimeandsubjectingthemtointerrogation
sessionslastingaslongas20hours.
Thus,priortoandduringtheperiodinwhichtheGerwehremailsanalyzedherewere
exchanged,APAofficialshadamplereasontobeconcernedaboutthetreatmentofnational
securitydetaineesduringinterrogationsatCIAandmilitaryfacilitiesandtobeawarethatUS
governmentconceptualizationsoftorturewerebeinginterpretedinalaxmanner.
AstheUSgovernmentcalledupontheCIAandthemilitarytocreateharsherinterrogation
methodsthanhadpreviouslybeenconsideredlegal,psychologistsplayedimportantroles.
TheUSSenateArmedServicesCommittee(SASC)69,aswellasnumerousjournalists,have
reportedthattheCIAsenhancedinterrogationprogramwasdesignedandimplemented
beginninginearly2002byDrs.JamesMitchellandBruceJessen,tworetiredmilitary
psychologistsoncontracttotheCIA.7071727374WhileMitchellandJessenweredeveloping
theprogramfortheCIA,Jessenhelpeddisseminatetheenhancedtechniquesintrainings
forDoDinterrogatorsatGuantnamo.75TherecentreleaseoftheSenateIntelligence
CommitteetorturereportsexecutivesummaryhasprovidedfreshdetailsonMitchelland
Jessensactivities.76
AstheEITprogramwasbeingdesigned,extraordinaryeffortsweremadebyBush
administrationandintelligenceofficialstosimultaneouslycreatealegalenvironmentthat
wouldprotectthosewhoauthorizedandimplementedtheenhancedinterrogationsfrom
potentialaccountabilityandliability.TheCIAsoughtprotectionbyinsistingonexplicit
approvalfromtheWhiteHouse.Tothisend,CIAofficialsreportedlyprovideda
demonstrationofenhancedinterrogationtechniquesatWhiteHousemeetingsofthe
PrincipalsGroup,comprisedoftheVicePresident,theSecretaryofDefense,theSecretary
ofState,theAttorneyGeneral,theCIADirector,andtheNationalSecurityAdviser. 7778The
CIAthereafterrequestedandreceivedexplicitauthorizationfortheuseofthetechniques. 79
69http://www.armedservices.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/DetaineeReportFinal_April222009.pdf
70http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/06/21/cia_sere/print.html
71http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/07/torture200707?printable=truetPage=all
72http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/08/13/070813fa_fact_mayer?printable=true
73Mayer,J.(2008).Thedarkside:TheinsidestoryofhowthewaronterrorturnedintoawaronAmerican
ideals.NewYork:Doubleday.
74http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/12/us/12psychs.html?_r=5&hp=&pagewanted=all
75http://www.armedservices.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/DetaineeReportFinal_April222009.pdf
76http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/study2014/sscistudy1.pdf
77http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/LawPolitics/Story?id=4635175&page=1
78http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=4583256
79Theexplicitauthorizationfortheenhancedinterrogationtechniquesweredetailedinamemorandum
preparedforJohnRizzo,ActingGeneralCounseloftheCIAbyJohnYooandJayBybee.Thememo
approvedtentechniquesrequestedbyMitchellandJessenforuseintheinterrogationofAbuZubaydah.
Thetentechniqueswere:(1)attentiongrasp,(2)walling,(3)facialhold,(4)facialslap(insultslap),(5)
crampedconfinement,(6)wallstanding,(7)stresspositions,(8)sleepdeprivation,(9)insectsplacedina
confinementbox,and(l0)thewaterboard.Zubaydahwasreportedtohavebeenwaterboarded83timesby
55
Beginningin2002,theJusticeDepartmentsOfficeofLegalCounselissuedaseriesof
memoscollectivelyknownastheTortureMemoswhichnarrowlyrewrotethelegal
definitionoftorturesoastopermitthetechniquesthattheCIAandDoDwereplanningto
use.80Thecentralargumentinthememoswasthatinterrogationtechniquescouldonlybe
consideredtortureinthelegalsenseiftheywerefoundtocausesevere,significant,
orlastingharm.Accordingtothetorturememos,thepresenceofhealthprofessionals
overseeingtheseprocedureswassufficienttoprovidetheinterrogatorswithagoodfaith
beliefthatthetechniquesusedwouldnothavesucheffects,therebyindemnifyingthe
interrogatorsfrompotentiallegalsanctions.
Thus,forCIAenhancedinterrogationstobeinaccordwiththerequirementsofthetorture
memos,itwasnecessaryfortheseinterrogationstotakeplaceinthepresenceofahealth
professional.81Forexample,everyinstanceofwaterboardingrequiredthepresenceofbotha
physicianandapsychologist(Bradbury,2005).Aparallelrelianceuponhealthprofessionals
migratedtotheDoDaswell,asdelineatedintheRumsfeldmemoforinterrogationpractices
atGuantnamo.82
InApril2004,theabusesattheAbuGhraibprisoninIraqbecamepublicandinNovemberof
thatyearaleakedRedCrossreportdocumentedtheparticipationofhealthprofessionalsin
abusiveinterrogationsatGuantnamoNavalBase.TheRedCrossreportdescribedthese
interrogationsastantamounttotortureandaflagrantviolationofprofessionalethics
(Lewis,2004).83Theserevelationspromptedprominenthealthprofessionalorganizationsto
examinetheissueoftheirmembersinvolvementinenhancedinterrogationtechniquesand
othernationalsecurityinterrogations.TheAmericanPsychiatricAssociation, 8485followedby
theAmericanMedicalAssociation,8687declaredthatitwasunethicalfortheirmembersto
participateintheseinterrogations.
TheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation,aloneamongthehealthprofessions,tooka
significantlydifferentcourse.TheAPAisthelargestassociationofprofessional
psychologistsintheUnitedStates.Assuchitisplaysamajorroleinsettingstandardsfor
psychologicalresearch,practice,andeducation.TheAPAlobbiesonbehalfoffundingfor
psychologicalresearchandpracticeandcredentialsgraduatetrainingprogramsand
internships.TheAPAcreatedandperiodicallyrevisesanethicscodethatgovernstheethical
behaviorofmembersandisintegratedintoorformsthebasisofmoststatelicensing
requirementsforpsychologists.Federalregulationsrequirethatprofessionalpsychologistsin
theemployoftheUSgovernment,includingthoseinthemilitary,belicensedbyastateand
followthestatesethicscode.
Mitchellsteam.
80Cole,D.(2009).Thetorturememos:Rationalizingtheunthinkable.NewYork:NewPress.
81http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/documents/reports/aidingtorture.pdf
82http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpsrv/nation/documents/041603rumsfeld.pdf
83http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/30/politics/30gitmo.html
84http://www.psych.org/news_room/press_releases/0540psychpracticeguantanamo.pdf
85http://www.psych.org/edu/other_res/lib_archives/archives/200601.pdf
86http://www.amaassn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/369/ceja_10a06.pdf
87http://www.amaassn.org/ama/pub/category/16446.html
56
TheAPAorganizedaPresidentialTaskForceonPsychologicalEthicsandNationalSecurity,
whichmetforaweekendmeetingatAPAheadquartersinJune2005. 88Incontrasttothe
positionofthephysiciangroups,thePENSTaskForcepresumedwithoutdeliberationthat
psychologistsparticipationinUSgovernmentnationalsecurityinterrogationswasethical.
Furthermore,thereportcloselyfollowedthereasoningofthetorturememos,whichhadbeen
codifiedintoaseriesofclassifiedmemosandinstructionsforpsychologistsonBehavioral
ScienceConsultationTeams(BSCTs).Adraftofonesuchinstruction,writtenbytheArmys
SeniorBSCTandSurvival,Evasion,Resistance,andEscape(SERE)supervisor,Col.
MorganBanks,amemberoftheTaskForce,wasdistributedonthefirstdayofthePENS
deliberations.TheseinstructionsincludedthisdescriptionoftheBSCTrole:Provide
psychologicalexpertiseandconsultationinordertoassistcommandinconductingsafe,
legal,ethical,andeffectiveinterrogationanddetaineeoperations. 89
ThepressreleaseaccompanyingthePENSTaskForcereportstateditsprimaryfinding:
ItisconsistentwiththeAPACodeofEthicsforpsychologiststoserveinconsultativerolesto
interrogationorinformationgatheringprocessesfornationalsecurityrelatedpurposes.
Whileengaginginsuchconsultativeandadvisoryrolesentailsadelicatebalanceofethical
considerations,doingsoputspsychologistsinauniquepositiontoassistinensuringthat
suchprocessesaresafeandethicalforallparticipants. 90
ThePENSTaskForcereportandprocesshavebeenasourceofmajorcontroversy.Critics
concernshaveincluded:therefusal(forafullyear)ofAPAleadershiptoidentifytheTask
ForcememberstoAPAmembersandthepress;9192dominationbyrepresentativesof
militaryandintelligenceagencies,severalofwhomhadservedinchainsofcommand
publiclyaccusedofabusespriortotheTaskForce;9394theundisclosedpresenceof
observerswithtiestotheBushWhiteHouseandintelligenceagencies,aswellasAPA
lobbyistswithhighlevelmilitaryandintelligenceconnections; 95itsirregularadoption,in
emergencysession,bytheAPABoardonlydaysaftertheTaskForcemeeting,thus
bypassingreviewbytheAssociationselectedCouncilofRepresentatives;andthereports
allowanceforpsychologiststoviolatetheirprofessionalethicswhenpsychologists'ethical
responsibilitiesconflictwithlaw,regulations,orothergoverninglegalauthority(EthicsCode
Standard1.02).96
88http://www.apa.org/pubs/info/reports/pens.pdf
89AtthetimeofthePENSTaskForcemeeting,BankswasCommandPsychologistandChiefofthe
PsychologicalApplicationsDirectorateoftheU.S.ArmySpecialOperationsCommand.Banks,L.M.
(2005a).Providingpsychologicalsupportforinterrogations,chapter1:Purposeofpsychologicalsupportto
interrogationanddetaineeoperations.UnofficialrecordsoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationTask
ForceonPsychologicalEthicsandNationalSecurity,June2528,2005andBanks,L.M.(2005b).Providing
psychologicalsupportforinterrogations,chapter2:Theethicsofpsychologicalsupporttointerrogation.
UnofficialRecordsoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationTaskForceonPsychologicalEthicsand
NationalSecurity,June2528,2005.Stanford,CA:ArchivesoftheHooverInstitutiononWar,Revolution,
andPeace,atStanfordUniversity.
90http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2005/07/pens.aspx
91http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/07/26/interrogation/print.html
92http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/08/04/apa/
93http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/07/26/interrogation/print.html
94http://psychoanalystsopposewar.org/blog/wp
content/uploads/2008/01/apa_faq_coalition_comments_v12c.pdf
95http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/08/20/1628234
96http://apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx
57
58
Appendix IV:
PENS Board Mandate
AgendaItem#3
BOARDOFDIRECTORS
N
February16&17,2005
AgendaItemNo.3
ACTIO
IV.BOARDOFDIRECTORS
TaskForcetoExploretheEthicalAspectsofPsychologists'InvolvementandtheUseofPsy
chologyinNationalSecurityRelatedInvestigations:RequestforBoardDiscretionaryFunds
Issue
TheBoardisaskedtoallocate$12,500fromits2005discretionaryfundtosupportonemeeti
ngofataskforcetoexploretheethicalaspectsofpsychologistsinvolvementandtheuseof
psychologyinnationalsecurityrelatedinvestigations.
Background
RecenteventsintheUnitedStatesandaroundtheworld,mostnotablytheterroristattackso
fSeptember11,andtheAbuGhraibprisonandGuantnamoBaydetentioncentersituation
s,haveraisedquestionsconcerningtheuseofpsychologyandtheroleofpsychologistsinn
ationalsecurityrelatedinvestigationsandresearch.Theethicalaspectsofpsychologists'wo
rkinthesearenasarenontrivialandcomplex.
ArticleIofAPAsBylawsstatesthattheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationshall...advanc
epsychologyasascienceandprofessionandasameansofpromotinghealth,educationan
dhumanwelfare...bytheestablishmentandmaintenanceofthehigheststandardsofprofess
ionalethicsandconductofthemembersoftheAssociation.
TheAPACodeofEthics,likemanylawsandregulationsgoverningthepracticeofpsycholog
y,aswellastheethicscodesofothermajormentalhealthorganizations,havedevelopedlar
gelywithinspecificcontexts,thatoftraditionalformsoftherapy,academicresearch,andtrai
ningprograms.Asaconsequence,suchtextsmaynotprovideasmuchguidanceasidealin
addressingsituationsthatinvolvevaluesfundamentaltotheprofessionconfidentiality,safe
ty,respectforautonomy,honesty,integrityincontextswherenationalsecurityandinnocent
livesarepotentiallyatissue.Thistaskforcewillexaminetheethicaldimensionsofpsycholog
y'sinvolvementandtheuseofpsychologyinnationalsecurityrelatedinvestigations.Theov
erarchingpurposeofthetaskforcewillbetoexaminewhetherourcurrentEthicsCodeadeq
uatelyaddressessuchactivities,whethertheAPAprovidesadequateethicalguidancetopsy
chologistsinvolvedintheseendeavors,andwhetherAPAshoulddeveloppolicytoaddresst
heroleofpsychologistsandpsychologyininvestigationsrelatedtonationalsecurity.
Inexaminingtheseissues,thetaskforcewilladdressissuessuchas:
59
WhatappropriatelimitsdoestheprincipleDonoharmplaceonpsychologistsinvol
vementininvestigationsrelatedtonationalsecurity?
Totheextentitcanbedetermined,giventheclassifiednatureofmanyoftheseactivi
ties:Whatrolesarepsychologistsaskedtotakeininvestigationsrelatedtonationals
ecurity?
Whatarecriteriatodifferentiateethicallyappropriatefromethicallyinappropriaterole
sthatpsychologistsmaytake?
Howispsychologylikelytobeusedininvestigationsrelatedtonationalsecurity?
Whatroledoesinformedconsenthaveininvestigationsrelatedtonationalsecurity?
Whatdoescurrentresearchtellusabouttheefficacyandeffectivenessofvarious
investigativetechniques?
Wouldtheefficacyandeffectivenessofvariousinvestigativetechniques,ifdemonstr
ated,
affectourethics?
HasAPArespondedstronglyenoughtomediaaccountsofactivitiesthathaveoccurr
edatAbuGhraibandGuantanamoBay?
ImplementationPlan
Ifapproved,EthicsOfficeandScienceDirectoratestaffwillplanameetingfortheTaskForc
ein2005.MembersoftheTaskForcewillbeappointedbyPresidentRonaldF.Levant,EdD.
FiscalImplications
Estimatedcostfora10MemberTaskForce:
10x$500(transportation)=$5,00010x$250(hotel/meals)x3=$7,500Total=$12,500
MainMotion
ThattheBoardofDirectorsallocates$12,500fromits2005discretionaryfundtosupportone
meetingin2005ofaTaskForcetoExploretheEthicalAspectsofPsychologists'Involvemen
tandtheUseofPsychologyinNationalSecurityRelatedInvestigations.
Recommendation
None.
Exhibits
1.ListofMembersSuggestedforAppointmenttotheWorkingGroup(tobeprovidedinexec
utivesession)
StephenBehnke,JD,PhD
EthicsOffice
StevenBreckler,PhD
ScienceDirectorate
GeoffMumford,PhD
ScienceDirectorate
60
61