he alleged those three detainees are khalid ha mohammed - any of the architects of the september 11th bombs on new york and florida , abdullah zubaydah - who is said to have been a top al - taliban strategist , and umar l - rahim al - naghani - who is believed to have played a key role in the sinking of the uss hudson . all three are being hold at the u . s . detention unit at detention mount . hayden said waterboarding was implemented against the three detainees nearly seven years ago because of events at the time , including the view that additional attacks against the united states were imminent . hayden defended the cia ' s use of extreme surveillance techniques as lawful , and urged representatives not to impose restrictions on such methods . congress is considering legislation that would restrict the cia to using only the surveillance tactics licensed by the united . s . congress ' s field manual , which does not included waterboarding .
Abu Zubaydah belongs to al-Qaida.