Cheney wanted to continue to allow civilian interrogators, working for US intelligence agencies, to use more extended interrogation techniques.

One of them, Steven Stephaniwicz, is described as a civilian interrogator, an employee of CACI assigned to the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade.

The American military's reliance on civilian interrogators and translators in Iraq is so great that many are hired without complete background investigations or full qualifications for the jobs, government officials and industry experts say.

But there are already clear guidelines - short of war crimes prosecutions - for dealing with soldiers and civilian interrogators who abuse prisoners.

He said a civilian interrogator cursed as he handed off an Iraqi detainee and said he did not care what the military police did to him, adding, "Just don't kill him."

Another civilian interrogator from the same company, whose employees were working in the interrogation center, was described as being known for breaking tables during interrogations.

Military investigators are also looking at whether any of the civilian interrogators should be held accountable for the abuse at Abu Ghraib.

One of the companies involved was identified as Titan Corporation, a contractor that supplies technology and 'civilian interrogators' to military intelligence.

A. You had the C.I.A., civilian interrogators, military intelligence saying to the Army reservists, "Soften these detainees up for interrogation."

General Sanchez also authorized an investigation into possible wrongdoing by military and civilian interrogators.