Pentagon tightens interrogation rules

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department announced it has tightened rules on detainee interrogation to prevent potential abuses during questioning.

The new policy requires interrogations of prisoners be monitored, even when questioning is being carried out by another government agency, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

Under previous rules, non-Pentagon questioners were required to follow the Army field Manual when questioning prisoners at military facilities. The new directive adds the requirement that military personnel observe those sessions, the Times said.

"If the monitored party does not adhere to (Department of Defense) policies and procedures, the monitor shall immediately terminate the interrogation," the directive said.

Among other things, the new policy also establishes limits on the use of defense contractors in interrogations. It requires that contractors follow the same rules, stating they could be prosecuted for harming detainees or improperly conducting interrogations.

"You can have all the training in the world, but if you let other folks in the henhouse, that's not good," a military officer told the Times.