Retired judge refuses to refer case to prosecutors because of torture assessment . The U.S. military has acknowledged that it tortured prisoners in the years after World War II and says its actions were justified by a need for information about Japanese plans to attack Pearl Harbor. White House , Defense Department respond to Washington Post story .
Retired judge refuses to refer case to prosecutors because of torture assessment . Susan Crawford describes techniques as `` overly aggressive and too persistent '' Military prosecutors accuse Mohammed al-Qahtani of helping plan 9/11 attacks . White House , Defense Department respond to Washington Post story .