On 60 minutes, in his first TV interview, former FBI agent
Ali Soufan discusses interrogation techniques. First he retells how he was able to get OBL's bodyguard to identify 7 of the hijackers as Al Qaeda members shortly after 9/11 (the bodyguard was in prison and didn't know who was involved in the attacks). The bodyguard denied it was an Al Qaeda attack. He showed him a book of pictures, telling him that he didn't know which ones were his sources giving up information. He then identified 7 of the hijackers. When Soufan explained to him that he had just identified some of the hijackers, and realizing they not Soufan's sources, he collapsed, knowing he had just given up crucial evidence that it was an Al Qaeda attack.
Soufan used interrogation techniques that surprised terrorists; a soft approach. He would sit and drink tea with them. It surprised them because they were trained that Americans were evil and if caught would be handled roughly. He believes that with this technique, he was able to exact much more information than using tougher methods.
Then, he discussed how the CIA would take over and use what he called border-line torture methods such as sleep deprivation. He claimed these methods were ineffective. When he would take over again, he was able to make progess again. He also believed that more severe methods such as water-boarding were also ineffective (he never witnessed these). He bases this on the belief that terrorists are expected to be tortured when captured and their trained to resist giving up information.
He also contended that the CIA held information from the FBI that could have prevented the attacks, which the CIA denies. He has a new book coming out, which will have many blacked out sections because the CIA argues they are classified.
