[JURIST] US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Porter Goss [official profile] Tuesday denied allegations that the CIA engages in torture when interrogating detainees. In an ABC-TV interview [transcript], Goss said that the agency's interrogation tactics did "not come close" torture in the sense of inflicting "physical pain or causing disability." He further asserted that torture does not produce useful information. Goss would not, however, comment on individual interrogation techniques used to extract information from suspected terrorists and other detainees. He went on to state that any suspected terrorists will be afforded required due process protections. Earlier this month, the US Senate passed an anti-torture amendment [JURIST document] sponsored by Senator and former Vietnam POW John McCain by a margin of 90-9; Vice President Dick Cheney has been seeking an exception for the CIA [JURIST report] from its provisions, drawing criticism from former CIA Director Stansfield Turner [JURIST report], among others. AFP has more.