WASHINGTON: The Central Intelligence Agency in 2005 destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the interrogation of two Al Qaeda operatives in the agency’s custody, a step it took in the midst of Congressional and legal scrutiny about the CIA’s secret detention program, according to current and former government officials. The videotapes showed agency operatives in 2002 subjecting terror suspects — including Abu Zubaydah, the first detainee in CIA custody — to severe interrogation techniques. They were destroyed in part because officers were concerned that tapes documenting controversial interrogation methods could expose agency officials to greater risk of legal jeopardy, several officials said. The CIA said today that the decision to destroy the tapes had been made “within the CIA itself,” and they were destroyed to protect the safety of undercover officers and because they no longer had intelligence value. The agency was headed at the time by Porter J. Goss. Through a spokeswoman, Goss declined this afternoon to comment on the destruction of the tapes.
But since we don’t torture, whats the big deal?
“What matters here is that it was done in line with the law,” he said. He said in his statement that he was informing agency employees because “the press has learned” about the destruction of the tapes. Staff members of the Sept. 11 commission, which completed its work in 2004, expressed surprise when they were told that interrogation videotapes existed until 2005.”The commission did formally request material of this kind from all relevant agencies, and the commission was assured that we had received all the material responsive to our request,” said Philip D. Zelikow, who served as executive director of the Sept. 11 commission and later as a senior counselor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. If tapes were destroyed, he said, “it’s a big deal, it’s a very big deal,” because it could amount to obstruction of justice to withhold evidence being sought in criminal or fact-finding investigations.
And what else was withheld from the 9-11 Commission?
And when did this government of ours start being concerned over law and order – and justice?
They didn’t destroy the tapes intentionally, they were on 8-track.
>>They didn’t destroy the tapes
>>intentionally, they were on 8-track.
Knock it off, you fucking homo. Everybody has an 8-track player.
>> 8-track player
I guess this kind of dates us.
>>I guess this kind of dates us.
Hey, I have a turntable with a 78 rpm setting. And a world-class selection of wax cylinders:
http://tinyurl.com/36pdlhe
I have underwear older than you!
http://tinyurl.com/ynstx4
You guys are fucking hopeless.
>>You guys are fucking hopeless.
Hey teenybopper, just because you haven’t been to see Louis Armstrong or Billie Holliday (or the late, great Max Roach) in person, that’s no reason to get pissy!
Well, I read today in an old Newsweek at the doctor’s office that they’ve used selected Yoko Ono recordings as part of the harsh interrogations. Clearly we’ve crossed way over the line when it comes to torture.
If our government won’t investigate what seems clearly to be war crimes, we need to bring in the international courts.
How does one get that process started? I’ll sign it.
>>> Mister Lesbian said, They didn’t destroy the tapes intentionally, they were on 8-track.
A Zip disk, more likely.
Why are these tapes relevant to the 9/11 commission, rather than one of the other investigating Congressional committees?
Unless they are inquiring as to why such interrogations didn’t happen before 9/11, like of say Zacharias Moussaui.
I still remember some historical documentary saying where the major objection to the CIA’s methods, was about reading the other fella’s mail. We’ve come quite a way from that, haven’t we? And it just seems to get worse. And the news hasn’t mentioned the possible Geneva Convention violations in quite some time now. Seems like the CIA and Bush Administration is getting the velvet glove treatment by the press.
If I was forced to listen to Yoko Ono or rap music, I would tell them anything they wanted to know.
>>You guys are fucking hopeless.<< wears this like a badge of honor, aw shucks!
Your own anti-CIA biases come out with these types of posts. Perhaps the real reason is that some of the things that were said under interrogation are quite uncomfortable. It has been published that Zubaydah named 3 Saudi princes and a Pakistani, giving out their cell phone numbers. All 4 ended up dead within a few weeks.
#14, Mister G,
Oh my gawd !!! Just mention I’ll have to listen to Yoko One and I’ll sign anything you want. You can even have my priceless collection of bellybutton lint. Or the one no one ever gets to see, my whole hole collection. (I have it stashed in a hole) Anything you want, just no Yoko One.
***
Now why am I not overly concerned or upset by this news? Maybe because I have come to expect it. I have very little hope those who have torn the Constitution to shreds will ever see justice done. The best I can hope for is those days are over.
I fully expect, the day after the Presidential election, to hear all the paper shredders in Washington, Arlington, Langley, and Guantanamo to be working overtime.
“harsh interrogation” … my foot! Let’s call it what it obviously is: torture.
If the “MSM” is so liberal, as the cons claim, why to they consistently parrot the Orwellian double-speak of the Bush Administration?
This is part and parcel to the Admin pattern of destroying evidence and obstruction of justice. The sooner we can be rid or these thieves, murderers and scoundrels, the better.
#18
“This is part and parcel to the Admin pattern of destroying evidence and obstruction of justice. The sooner we can be rid or these thieves, murderers and scoundrels, the better.”
You do realize they will never be prosecuted right?
It’s pretty much like down here in Honduras where you can steal a million dollars and no one will prosecute you but if you steal a chicken from a backyard chances are that you will spend 20 years in prison.
#15. I can’t decide what I am biased against more – the CIA’s incompetence or its lawlessness.
Ok, between 9/11 and the Iraqi WMD fiasco, I guess it is the sheer incompetence that bugs me more.
anyone interested in a good history of the CIA should read ‘Legacy of Ashes.’
and anyone who thinks that CIA torture is a new thing, google up ‘Project Artichoke’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_ARTICHOKE