Resistance to interrogation

R2I or resistance to interrogation is a name for a set of techniques taught to UK, USA and other NATO soldiers ostensibly to help them, after capture by the enemy, to resist interrogation techniques such as humiliation and torture.

The trainees undergo practices such as hooding, sleep deprivation, time disorientation, prolonged nakedness, sexual humiliation and deprivation of warmth, water and food.

One major objective for the prisoner is to buy time, since information he possess is most likely to be of only value. One method is called effective talking i.e. disclosing information that is correct but outdated or worthless. Another tactic is for prisoners to act as though they are more confused, frightened, tired or ill than they really are e.g. pretending to have a long-standing stomach problem.

Elements of this training are depicted in the G.I. Jane movie.

Soldiers are taught to be realistic; they are captured and almost certainly going to dieFact|date=June 2007. The interrogators are going to hurt them, and to leave each day with any limbs intact will be a miracle. Then they are taught to find their anger - the only thing they have left in the world is not to tell these people anything.

According to " [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1212199,00.html The Guardian] " (May 8, 2004) this training influenced the torture of Iraqi detainees by US soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison. According to this same article the techniques were taught specifically to US military intelligence officers who later went to Iraq to perform interrogations.

It's important to note that R2I training is not thought to be a practice for those interrogators who have to obey international law (e.g. the Geneva Convention).

ee also

*pride-and-ego down
*SERE