Time has released an 84-page log detailing the interrogation of suspected terrorist Mohammad al-Qahtani at Guantanamo Bay. It’s not quite a transcript, but a log that notes everything this guy did for about a month of questioning.

I should note that I have serious reservations about Time publishing secret documents like this. After all, it’s practically a textbook on how to interrogate terror suspects. All the tricks are in there: when to offer and withhold creature comforts, the good cop/bad cop treatment, using female interrogators to mess with their heads, you name it.

But it’s like Valerie Plame’s identity. However it got out, it’s out now, and we ought to talk about it. If you’re a terrorist, and you’re reading this for tips, piss off.

It’s a very long document, so I’ll write a series of posts with my thoughts. Here goes:

The first thing that strikes me is how much the interrogators tend to the guy’s physical needs:

0402: First shift begins. Detainee awakened and sent to bathroom. Corpsman checked detainees vitals and determined that if the detainee didn’t drink any water he would need an IV.
0415: Detainee refused water.
0420: Interrogation began with lead running pride and ego down. Enforced control of detainee approach.
0530: Detainee refuses water, IV is started. Detainee offers no resistance.

1400: Detainee taken to bathroom and walked 10 minutes. Corpsman replaced ankle bandages to prevent chafing from cuffs.

They even use advanced diagnostic techniques:

2000: Corpsman checks vitals and finds the detainee’s pulse is unusually slow. Doctor arrives and decides to perform an EKG – leaves to get EKG machine.
2050: Doctor returns and performs EKG. Heartbeat is regular but very slow – 35 bpm.
Doctor consults with another doctor.
2130: Decision is made to take detainee to GTMO hospital to perform a CT scan of the detainee’s brain to see if there are any irregularities.

Yeah, there’s an irregularity: HE’S A TERRORIST.