Senators Slam CIA Tape Destruction

Rockefeller, Hagel Say Destruction Of Interrogation Recordings Warrants Investigation

(CBS)  Members of the Senate Intelligence Committee slammed both the destruction of videotapes depicting CIA interrogations of al Qaeda operatives and the aggressive interrogation techniques suspected to be used in those interrogations.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the CIA had videotaped interrogations of at least two terrorism suspects in 2002. The existence of the tapes, and their later destruction, had been hidden from members of Congress, the courts and even the 9/11 Commission.

"Burning tapes, destroying evidence, I don't know how deep this goes," Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., said on Face the Nation. "Could there be obstruction of justice? Yes. How far does this go up in the White House - who knew it? I don't know."

There are questions as to why the tapes were destroyed. CIA director Michael Hayden has said it was done to protect the identity of the interrogators, a claim which was met with derision on Capitol Hill, since individual agents' identities could be blurred or redacted.

But a well informed source told CBS News national security correspondent David Martin that the recordings were destroyed to avoid criminal prosecution of CIA officials.

"I don't have anything against taping," Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., told Bob Schieffer, "because it works out for the benefit of the one who is being interrogated - bad treatment clearly comes up. It also protects the person who is doing the interrogating by showing that he or she is doing it in the proper fashion."

"But these particular tapes, I don't know why they were destroyed," he said. "And I also don't know why we didn't find out about that until 2006."

As the Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Rockefeller is a member of the Gang of Four - the top Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate intelligence committees - and has been briefed on the CIA interrogation program.

However, because such information remains secret, the congressional members are not allowed to disclose anything discussed, years after the fact - even so much as to disclose whether something was not discussed.

But, he said information was still withheld. Rockefeller said he learned of the tapes' destruction from reading of it in the newspapers.

All Rockefeller could say about his past briefings on CIA interrogations was, "I was really disturbed by what I was reading and what we grew to know."

The destruction of the tapes points to possible charges of obstruction of justice, but it is unknown how far up in the administration it could lead, after reports surfaced that former White House counsel Harriet Miers told the CIA not to destroy the tapes back in 2005.

Hagel said he doubted that senior Bush administration member didn't know about the tapes since the issue of detainee interrogations has been "rattling around the White House and in the Congress and the media for the last few years."

"Maybe they're so incompetent that that's what happened," Hagel said. "I would say that is gross malfeasance and incompetency if that did in fact happen."

The Justice Department and the CIA announced Saturday that they will conduct a joint inquiry into the matter, to determine whether a full investigation is warranted.

There have been some calls on Attorney General Mike Mukasey to appoint a special counsel, but Rockefeller and Hagel both said that would be unnecessary.

"I don't think there's a need for a special counsel, and I don't think there's a need for a special commission," Rockefeller said. "It is the job of the Intelligence Committees to do that."

The Senate Intelligence Committee has called Hayden to appear before the panel on Tuesday to talk about interrogation and techniques.

There are also questions as to what is depicted in the interrogations: Were techniques used that were illegal? Would the very existence of the tapes - like the images of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq - have proved detrimental to the world's image of America?

"You can speculate," Rockefeller said. "Were there things on those tapes that they didn't want to have seen, that didn't conform to what the attorney general would allow them to do? Were they just trying to bury the general subject?"

Rockefeller and Hagel said that, because torture and aggressive tactics like waterboarding are unreliable as intelligence gathering tools, their use has set back American efforts to secure the nation in the face of terrorist threats.

"Everyone that I have ever talked to about this since I've been in the Senate, and my experience in the Army and in Vietnam has said and confirmed, that inhumane, cruel variations of torture do not work for many reasons," Hagel said. "Now if it doesn't work, then why are we doing it?"

Rockefeller pointed out that several past efforts on Capitol Hill to reign in the intelligence community's interrogation practices have failed.

"We are so undermining our position in the world. We are signatories of the Geneva Convention. We were the leaders there of that," Hagel said. "We are saying what to the world - that the Army field manual [which prohibits torture] applies to our armed services people, but the CIA and all these Blackwater-type variations of militias and armies are unaccountable to that?

"That's not who we are as Americans - we're better than that," Hagel said. "The world wants us to be better than that."

[mudrose-2009]

No muddy, just you and your kind. And once you death cult worshipping terrorists are gone from office in 2009, things will get much better and America will return to their plce among honored nations - an honor that your kind stole from us.

Posted by rafterman1

Hahahaha. Hey did you read the article in the Neuroscience journal on turning fruit flies into fruits and then straight again. Apparently there''s a short circuit in the scent. Hahahaha!

[mudrose-2009]

While several studies find homosexuality in humans and other animals is biological rather than learned, a question remains over whether it''s a hard-wired phenomenon or one that can be altered.
Hey check this out.

A new study finds that both drugs and genetic manipulation can turn the homosexual behavior of fruit flies on and off within a matter of hours.

It''s on the Fox News website.

[mudrose-2009]

if these fools want an accounting they should stop and think. to much info could be harmful to national security. people are so ready to commit treason and not be concerned. what is wrong with are politians??

Posted by redfish251

The dimnowits have proven time and again they would sell this country down the tubes. The will give everyone like Ahmie of Iran the benefit of the doubt. When it comes to America, we are liars, racists, murderers, torturers, etc. The Dimnowits defending everyone''s rights by the country.

[redfish251]

if these fools want an accounting they should stop and think. to much info could be harmful to national security. people are so ready to commit treason and not be concerned. what is wrong with are politians??

[mudrose-2009]

How many Republican senators will have a job to go back to in 2009. Then of course the anger of the American voter will not be displaced because the Republican senators in 2010 election will also feel the wrath of the voter.

Of course you know why the neocons hate Bill Clinton so much because he was such a good President to prove it he was elected twice by popular vote and he wasn''''t appointed by the Supreme Court.

Posted by antoniof123

THE GUY IS A SCUMBAG AND THE FUNNY APART ABOUT IT IS THAT ALL HIS LITTLE LEFTIES ARE SO ENAMOURED WITH HIM THEY DON''T HAVE THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO REALIZE THAT THEY ALL HAVE BEEN MINDFKKKED. HAHAHAHA!

[antoniof123]

The CIA has always tortured and destroyed evidence, and always will. Thats the way a Dem president created and funded the CIA, as an "extra-legal" entity. Libs are grandstanding. This issue will disappear by itself when the media latches onto the next sound bite.

LOL

Posted by userverify at 12:44 PM : Dec 10, 2007

That sounds like an act of desperation if I ever heard one sort of like Gonzo going away too right it just keeps getting better and better folks.

We know the neocons don''t like the light just like all roaches they run from it.

[antoniof123]

How many Republican senators will have a job to go back to in 2009. Then of course the anger of the American voter will not be displaced because the Republican senators in 2010 election will also feel the wrath of the voter.

Of course you know why the neocons hate Bill Clinton so much because he was such a good President to prove it he was elected twice by popular vote and he wasn''t appointed by the Supreme Court.

[mudrose-2009]

Mrs. Clinton has said she knows nothing about the controversy or the hiring of Craig Livingstone, the former aide who headed the office that collected the sensitive FBI material.

The House Government Reform and Oversight Committee uncovered the White House''s gathering of the FBI files in 1997. There was a short-lived uproar and Livingstone resigned from the administration.

Of course, with them everything gets buried under the rug.

[mudrose-2009]

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Jan. 14) -- First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was interviewed under oath today by Whitewater independent counsel Kenneth Starr about the circumstances behind the White House''s gathering of hundreds of sensitive FBI background files on previous White House employees. An administration official says the interview lasted just 15 minutes.

White House spokesman Mike McCurry said the interview took place in the White House residence. Reading from a statement by White House Counsel Charles Ruff, McCurry said Mrs. Clinton was asked about the White House obtaining of FBI file information on former White House employees in 1993 and 1994.

In addition to Ruff, the Clinton''s Whitewater lawyer David Kendall was also in the room during the interview. McCurry said when Mrs. Clinton was asked to be interviewed she voluntarily agreed, in keeping with the president''s promise to cooperate fully with the independent counsel.


Reading from Ruff''s statement, McCurry said, "As the president has previously announced, he and Mrs. Clinton are cooperating fully with the independent counsel. Mrs. Clinton voluntarily agreed when an interview was requested."

The White House statement also said the sworn testimony focused on "the acquisition in 1993-94 by the White House of certain FBI file information concerning former White House employees. Consistent with past practice, no further statements about the content of the interview will be made at this time."

[mudrose-2009]

By the BOok ??? ........ Now i''''m seriously starting to doubt if you even reside here in the states like you''''ve claimed to - This is not anything to be confused about - today is 12/10/2007. Cheers!
Posted by parrot2

Of course you would. Like how about a War Authorization. When Clinton lobbed his missle over Afghanistan to show us how much he was really paying attention despite Monica, the Congress went bananas because he had no authorization to do so. Think before you speak Polly-Wanna, don''t just mouth off Dimnowit talking points.

[mudrose-2009]

See, that''''s what people feel like in regards to the whole CIA controversy.

Posted by rafterman1

Gee I guess you forgot about the Billary riffling through the CIA/FBI files? Like she had authority to do that too.

[mudrose-2009]

And where in my post did I state that the operatives should be revealed. I commented on Hagels character.

Posted by radiob

And?

[radiob-2009]

So when it comes to protecting the identiy of true operatives, it''''s obstruction of justice? Poor Valerie, it only proves that she wasn''''t a real operative. Faux intelligence and then of course after finding out that Harriet Myers told the CIA not to destroy the tapes, let''''s here the CHORUS. IT''''S BUSH''''S FAULT.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by mudrose


And where in my post did I state that the operatives should be revealed. I commented on Hagels character.

[mudrose-2009]

Tell us what law, under the US Code, quoting title, section, etc, has been ''''''''''''''''broken'''''''''''''''' by the current Administration.

Posted by TheGateway1

They can''t. Because even the Congress cannot state with any true clarity that he has. It''s all political theatre designed to allude to the fact that he has, but unlike Clinton who blad facely lies to the American Public, Gets Impeached and still remains in office, Bush has run his Presidency by the book.

[mudrose-2009]

But you know this. Why do you think Bush demanded and got Congress to grant him immunity from such acts in 2006 if he was not afraid of them being illegal?*

Bush was granted immunity from breaking FISA and for any war crimes and the law was made retroactive to 2002. Wonder why?

Posted by b-easy63

Bush was not granted immunity for FISA. Article II, Section II of the Constitution gives Bush the right as Commander in Chief. When FISA violations have been brought to the Court''s attention, they courts have time and again ruled in favor of Bush. He didn''t demand anything. Wise up. You are so grossly misinformed.

[mudrose-2009]

Hagel and Biden are the only two senators who have consistently challenged Bush on Iraq and wiretapping. The only ones who have stood up with fortitude. Draft Hagel for president. We need a statesman that has character, integrity and does not bow to his party.
Posted by radiob

So when it comes to protecting the identiy of true operatives, it''s obstruction of justice? Poor Valerie, it only proves that she wasn''t a real operative. Faux intelligence and then of course after finding out that Harriet Myers told the CIA not to destroy the tapes, let''s here the CHORUS. IT''S BUSH''S FAULT.

[radiob-2009]

Hagel and Biden are the only two senators who have consistently challenged Bush on Iraq and wiretapping. The only ones who have stood up with fortitude. Draft Hagel for president. We need a statesman that has character, integrity and does not bow to his party.

[b-easy63]

We may never experience another terror attack on US soil--why would we? The terrorist have accomplished their goal--to pull back the mask of America and all our claims of morality, decency and honor--and ...reveal a monster and regime, no different than theirs.

We are not what we proclaim, we are how we act--and now the world knows that America the ''emperor'' is not only butt naked, but has a teeny weeny peter and the head on it is rotten. We won''t be seducing many countries any time soon--not unless we pay a lot more-since our dollar is almost worthless too. Gone from super ho'' to loser pimp in 7 years. Never hire a cheerleader to do a man''s job. There is a reason they are always on the sidelines cheering and never actually in the game taking the hits on the field or strategizing for a win.....

[b-easy63]

I think Congress did know. Wouldn''t there be a huge stink if the CIA has covered their azz and there is still a video tape out there, showing the members of Congress being told and them shrugging it off or asking for stronger torture methods. Anyone that can watch the votes and actions of both parties to Bush are deluding themselves if they don''t think their party is complicit in all this evil--up to their eyeballz. For instance--you can''t be "against the war" and still finance it any more than one can be against abortion and still pay for them to be done, or against cruelty to animals yet go pay to watch a dogfight.

Fact is, the Dems could have not brought the war budget to a vote and the war would have stopped in its tracks, or they could have stood firm against a veto...they play the ''straight man'' right now against the Repubs and Bush--but in actuality--they all want the same thing--us to stay in Iraq and control the oil--lives be damned, Democracy be damned. Up until Bush, no one had the moral vacuum to do what he did in the ME--they secretly LOVE this opportunity. The sticky wicket is how to maintain our foothold and bases while pretending that what they are doing is noble. Dems who think their party has a halo during the past 7 years or even that it really differs are fooling themselves. It all is political masturbation, the Dems just think their guy is different because he "strokes" their view a different way. Same view--just a different vantage point.

[b-easy63]

Tell us what law, under the US Code, quoting title, section, etc, has been ''''''''broken'''''''' by the current Administration.

Posted by TheGateway1 at 05:08 PM : Dec 09, 2007


-OUTING AN AGENT (DOMESTIC LAW)
ILLEGAL WIRE TAPPING (DOMESTIC LAW)
ENRON--CONFLICT OF INTEREST (DOMESTIC LAW)
RENDETION (GENEVA CONVENTIONS)
DESIGNATION OF WAR DETAINEES (GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND INT. LAW)
TORTURE (GENEVA CON. AND INT. LAW AND DOM LAW)

But you know this. Why do you think Bush demanded and got Congress to grant him immunity from such acts in 2006 if he was not afraid of them being illegal?*

Bush was granted immunity from breaking FISA and for any war crimes and the law was made retroactive to 2002. Wonder why?