Memo equates torture with 'severe pain'

WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- The Bush administration told the CIA in 2002 a U.S. torture ban would not be violated unless an interrogator meant to cause "severe pain," a rights group said.

The American Civil Liberties Union released several memos Thursday obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

A hitherto secret Justice Department memo said interrogators abroad had to "have the specific intent to inflict severe pain or suffering" to violate the ban, and an interrogator's "good faith" and "honest belief" the session would not cause severe suffering protects the interrogator, CNN reported.

Another memo released Thursday cited President Bush's and other warnings against torture but said "waterboarding," or simulated drowning, did not violate the law.

CNN said a third released memo tells CIA interrogators to keep records of sessions. The memo is signed by CIA director George Tenet and dated Jan. 28, 2003, the report said.