WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Army has sent a message out to its leaders reminding them that waterboarding is banned in the U.S. military.

It came a week after Congress approved a new attorney general who refused to describe waterboarding as torture.

The Army said the message is aimed at eliminating "any confusion that may have arisen" during the public discussion of the issue.

At his Senate confirmation hearings last month, Michael Mukasey repeatedly refused to say whether he considers the interrogation technique, which simulates drowning, to be a form of torture.

A coalition of military officials, doctors, and human rights groups has concluded that it is, in fact, torture.

The Pentagon's position does not impact other U.S. intelligence-gathering agencies.