In two separate legal opinions written in 2005, the Justice Department
authorized the C.I.A. to barrage terror suspects with a combination of
painful physical and psychological tactics, including head-slapping,
simulated drowning and frigid temperatures.

The memorandums were written just months after a Justice Department opinion
in December 2004 declared torture "abhorrent."

Administration officials have confirmed the existence of the classified
opinions, but will not make them public, saying only that they approved
techniques that were "tough, safe, necessary and lawful.

On Friday, the deputy White House press secretary, Tony Fratto, took The
Times to task for publishing the information, saying the newspaper had
compromised America's security.

"I've had the awful responsibility to have to work with The New York Times
and other news organizations on stories that involve the release of
classified information," Mr. Fratto said. "And I could tell you that every
time I've dealt with any of these stories, I have felt that we have chipped
away at the safety and security of America with the publication of this kind
of information."