Global Policy Forum

By Katherine Shrader

CIA Director Porter Goss defended U.S. interrogation practices and rejected any notion that the intelligence community engages in torture following months of criticism of Americans' treatment of foreign prisoners. Testifying Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Goss came under intense questioning by Democrats and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., but stood firm on the importance of interrogation as a legitimate intelligence tool, necessary to protect civilians and troops.

"I can assure you that I know of no instances where the intelligence community is outside the law on this," Goss said. "And I know for a fact that torture is not productive. That's not professional interrogation. We don't do torture."

The CIA inspector general is looking into at least four cases in which agency personnel may have been involved in the death of a detainee and other issues related to U.S. detention policies. He has referred one case to the Justice Department for prosecution, resulting in assault charges against CIA contractor David Passaro.

Democrats, including Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, are growing impatient for the results of the CIA report, requested last year by the former director, George Tenet. "This is a huge missing piece," Levin said. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., asked Goss whether the government is using a review process set up by the Clinton administration to determine when to approve "renditions," or the transfer of foreigners to another country for prosecution and detention.

U.S. authorities have flown at least 100 foreigners to countries including Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The Bush administration has said it seeks assurances that the subject will not be tortured, but critics say the practice allows the United States to outsource the dirty work. Goss, however, defended renditions as a 20-year-old practice with established policies. "I actually believe that since 9/11 ... we have more safeguards and more oversight in place than we did before," he said.

The White House also defended the renditions policy, saying the United States receives assurances before terrorism suspects are moved to another foreign country that officials there will not use torture in questioning. But press secretary Scott McClellan would not comment on the policy of extraditing someone to a place other than his or her own country.

"I'm not going to get into talking about any specific matters," he said. "This involves classified information that I'm just not going to get into." McClellan said Bush has made clear that the United States does not condone torture. "And the president does not believe we should export torture," he added.

But at the hearing, Goss was careful in answering questions of U.S. interrogation practices, saying there is clarity now on policies for military and civilian personnel. "At this time," he said, "there are no techniques ... that are being employed that are in any way against the law or would be considered torture or anything like that." Goss indicated he could say more in a closed session with senators.

McCain, a former POW in Vietnam, said he was concerned that the government lacks a specific policy about what interrogators can and cannot do when questioning prisoners. Goss said the uncertainties are largely resolved and, where they do exist, officials err on the side of caution.

Also in the wide-ranging hearing on global threats:

Adm. Lowell Jacoby, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, offered a hint of optimism regarding Iraq, saying he is seeing fewer insurgent attacks there since the Jan. 30 elections. That could point to a change in the insurgency's character, Jacoby said, but it's too early to call it a trend. He estimated there are 12,000 to 20,000 insurgents, with a single-digit percentage made up of non-Iraqis.

Goss said Iran has been "meddling in the affairs of Iraq" and "is one of the few very obvious sponsors of state terrorism." He reiterated that the Shiite guerrilla group, Hezbollah, is funded by Iran. "They ought to stop it," Goss said, echoing administration policy in adding that Iran's lack of candor on its nuclear program causes "reasonable doubt" about its intentions and capabilities.

Goss said China's military modernization is posing new questions for the United States. "Improved Chinese capabilities seemingly threaten U.S. forces in the region. China's recent legislation on anti-secession speaks for itself," he said. The measure authorizes the use of military force against Taiwan if the island declares independence.