House Panel Promises CIA Tapes Probe

Committee Leaders Say Congress Wasn’t Kept Informed About Destroyed Interrogation Tapes

(CBS/AP)  The CIA failed to inform Congress fully that it was videotaping the harsh interrogations of terror suspects and that it destroyed the tapes in 2005, the bipartisan leaders of the House of Representatives intelligence committee said Wednesday.

"Our committee was not informed, has not been kept informed, and we are very frustrated about that issue," said the committee's Democratic chairman, Rep. Sylvestre Reyes, after a three-hour private meeting with the CIA's director, Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden. That meeting, he said, "is just the first step in what we feel is going to be a long-term investigation."

The probe will include calling other witnesses, including Hayden predecessors George Tenet and Porter Goss, and John Negroponte, the former Director of National Intelligence who is now the deputy secretary of state, said Rep. Peter Hoekstra, the committee's senior Republican.

Reyes told CBS News that Hayden told the committee that he never received a sit-down briefing from Goss when he became CIA director.

Hoekstra told CBS News that he and Reyes both agree the man they most want to hear from is Jose Rodriguez, the former CIA director of operations, who ordered the destruction of the tapes. He said a meeting could happen relatively soon, possibly before Christmas.

Both also said they want to hear from former White House counsel Harriet Miers.

Hayden acknowledged that "particularly at the time of the destruction, we could have done an awful lot better at keeping the committee alerted and informed."

Hayden said he learned of the terrorist interrogation videotapes more than a year ago in his tenure as principal deputy director of national intelligence, where he served from April 2005 to May 2006. He said he did not know that the tapes were being destroyed.

"I did not personally know before they were destroyed, not at all," he said after the briefing. "I was aware of the existence of the tapes but really didn't become focused on it until the summer of '06."

Reyes said some members were "stunned" by what they heard at Wednesday's meeting, but they will need many more hearings before being able to figure out exactly what happened, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss.

Hoekstra said the panel also will look into the White House's interrogation policy and whether the intelligence agency's interrogators followed it.

Hayden made a similar appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, but said he could not answer all the panel's questions because the tapes were created and destroyed before he arrived at the CIA, under the tenure of his predecessors Tenet and Goss.

"Other people in the agency know about this far better than I," Hayden said, and promised the committee he would make those witnesses available.

Hayden told CIA employees last week that the videotapes, made in 2002, showed the CIA's interrogations of two terror suspects. The CIA destroyed the tapes in 2005. The tapes were made to document how CIA officers were using new, harsh questioning techniques recently approved by the White House to force recalcitrant prisoners to talk.

They show the interrogations of Abu Zubaydah and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri.

Abu Zubaydah, the first high-value detainee taken by the CIA in 2002, is now being held with other detainees at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He told his interrogators about alleged 9/11 accomplice Ramzi Binalshibh, and the two men's confessions also led to the capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who the U.S. government said was the mastermind behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Al-Nashiri is the alleged coordinator of the 2000 suicide attack on the USS Cole in Yemen, which killed 17 sailors. He is also now at Guantanamo.

The CIA has not described exactly what was shown on all the tapes. However, among the harsh interrogation techniques the White House approved in 2002 was waterboarding.

Waterboarding involves strapping down a prisoner, covering his mouth with plastic or cloth and pouring water over his face. The prisoner quickly begins to inhale water, causing the sensation of drowning.

The CIA is known to have waterboarded three prisoners - Abu Zubaydah, Al-Nashiri and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

The CIA has not used the technique since 2003, according to a government official familiar with the program. Hayden prohibited waterboarding in 2006. The U.S. military outlawed it the same year.

The CIA destroyed the videotapes in November of 2005. Exactly when Congress was notified of that and in what detail is in dispute.

President Bush said he didn't know about the tapes or their destruction until last week.

[allunknowing]

Somewhere before I read this quote, "War is Hell."

I''ve completely forgotten all of its meaning though.

[j-whitman]

Christmas Gifts from America to Cowboy Bush & Chuckles Chehey ----- Leg irons & prison

[j-whitman]

Cowboy Bush & Chucles Cheney''s Christmas Gifts to America ---- Hypocracy & Dishonor

[allunknowing]

nine eleven.

[mudrose-2009]

Hayden told CIA employees last week that the CIA taped the interrogations of two alleged terrorists in 2002. He said Congress was notified in 2003 both of the tapes'' existence and the agency''s intent to destroy them. The CIA destroyed the tapes in November of 2005. Exactly when Congress was notified and in what detail is in dispute. The House committee first learned the tapes had been destroyed in March 2007, according to Committee Chairman Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas.

Of course, more oversight and ********* and we knew nothing when the Foreign Intelligence Committee, Pelosi and whoever up on that God-forsaken Hill signed off on waterboarding. But it''s Bush Derangement Syndrome plaguing the minds and hearts of the Dimnowits anxious to do all they can to undermine the troops. Nice going. Love this "We Didn''t Know Anything". Of course you didn''t. Hahahha. How do these bastardos sleep at night.

[hambonehd]

This guy should go keep his mouth shut.
The media and others expose way too much these days.
Doesn''t everyone remember 911?

[allunknowing]

They sleep with their heated 9-11 embroidered blankets on the couch watching Katie Curic talk about Mitt Romney''s reilgious beliefs.

[random_radar]

"This guy should go keep his mouth shut.
The media and others expose way too much these days.
Doesn''''t everyone remember 911?"

Yes, the government ought to be able to secretly imprison and torture anyone they want.
A free and open society is dangerous.
Doesn''t anyone remember Nazi Germany?

[allunknowing]

I bet the German media didnt get too close to the internal workings of Nazi interrogations. ha.

[allunknowing]

nine eleven

[j-whitman]

mudnose,,,,, You have a short memory, in 2002 you people were cheerleading Bush on denying access to democrat Congressmen -
--- Bush broke the law dude,,, 8 members of Congress from each side (House & Senate Intelligence Committee''s) have to be briefed on the issue --- They were reduced to the Gang of 4 & not all of them got the full briefing ----- The Waterbording video''s were recorded that spring

[mudrose-2009]

This guy should go keep his mouth shut.
The media and others expose way too much these days.
Doesn''''t everyone remember 911?
Posted by hambonehd

Now do you understand? They don''t give a ***** about 9/11. All they give a ***** about is Bush bashing. They all have Bush Derangement Syndrome and an insatiable appetite to bring the country down.

[mudrose-2009]

mudnose,,,,, You have a short memory, in 2002 you people were cheerleading Bush on denying access to democrat Congressmen -
--- Bush broke the law dude,,, 8 members of Congress from each side (House & Senate Intelligence Committee''''s) have to be briefed on the issue --- They were reduced to the Gang of 4 & not all of them got the full briefing ----- The Waterbording video''''s were recorded that spring
Posted by j-whitman

Hahahahaha. I suppose the Intelligence Commitee was in the dark too. You are too stupid to believe.

[j-whitman]

seven eleven

[connapa]

I''m sure transcripts of those interrogations will include quotations from the suspects such as: gurgle, gurgle, gurgle. and technical notes such as "sound of water dripping." ANy transcripts of those interrogations will be so sanitized by now that nobody will be able to either prove or disprove. And, any of the interrogators will be anonymous. Even if the interrogators are identified, they will conveniently not remember details. I just wonder, when will we ever get an honest administration?

[j-whitman]

mudose,,,,, Start paying attention, few of the Gange of 4 knew, Senator Graham said he didn''t even know the extent of the program, they were told it was only in the planning stages, when in fact it was already in application.

[j-whitman]

mud, see ya later.. things to do

[hillaryin08]

Nothing will come of this except hype

[fiteit1]

This guy should go keep his mouth shut.
The media and others expose way too much these days.
Doesn''''t everyone remember 911?

Posted by hambonehd at 10:27 AM : Dec 11, 2007

All they give a ***** about is Bush bashing. They all have Bush Derangement Syndrome and an insatiable appetite to bring the country down.

Posted by mudrose at 10:41 AM : Dec 11, 2007

We don''t need Bush bashers to bring the country down, Bush can do it on his own. Criticism of poor policies, changing the law to suite his own agenda, breaking the law, lying, and not allowing a full access to checks and balances will only lead to exposure of the wrong doings of this administration.

Nevertheless, it sounds like putting your head in the sand is more your style.

[hillaryin08]

Nothing will come of this except hype. Nothing, just like the liberal threat to end funding for the war.

[fiteit1]

We are all guilty of this by default for having elected such a chalenged and defficient human being...

Posted by rokero0666 at 10:59 AM : Dec 11, 2007

We didn''t vote him in, Gore won the popular vote and the Electoral College voted Bush in. Do away with the Electoral College and make it a true democratic vote.

[hillaryin08]

We didn''''t vote him in, Gore won the popular vote and the Electoral College voted Bush in. Do away with the Electoral College and make it a true democratic vote.



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

Posted by fiteit1 at 11:15 AM : Dec 11, 2007


I''ll give you my vote for condoms and smokes!

Oh.......and an IPOD

[notblue]

This agent stated that it took aproximately 30 seconds for this KNOWN terrorist to spill his guts which undoubtledy saved innocent lives and hurt the terrorists. Only terrorist SYMPATHIZERS would critisize this lifesaving method of gaining information. I do not fear this interogation technique as I am a LAW ABIDING citizen of the U.S., not an Islamic militant bent on destroying American interests and citizens. HELLO people wake up to reality!

[oscarez]

notblue ... When you talk, if I close my eyes, I can hear Joseph Stalin.

[fornicario]

So notblue, should we just go ahead and torture our own citizens now? and what crimes become torture offenses? Should we torture kidnappers? murderers? Or maybe, in the new world order we live in, those who disagree with the government will be tortured for "not being patriotic". Will we begin building "reeducation" camps next, besides the one in Cuba?

[random_radar]

When I was in college I read a short story about a Jewish man being tortured by Gestapo interrogators. He was caught trying to hide weapons and the Nazis believed that he must have had help. When the pain became unbearable, the man incriminated his innocent neighbors just so they would stop the torture and allow him to die.

We have refined the techniques of torture since then, and now we can make anyone say anything we want to hear. I suppose you could argue that this is useful if you can verify claims independently, but the truth is that the information is used indiscriminately to imprison and kill because a low value is placed upon human life. Torture is not a method of fact finding, it is a cheap substitute for fact finding.

Torture has historically been associated with governments that are despotic, repressive, and tyrannical. By unabashedly justifying their use of torture, our government leaders are broadcasting a message about who they are. Your congressional representatives have legalized the power to kidnap you, imprison you, torture you, and kill you as they see fit.

The goose stepping, boot licking psuedo-patriotic jingoists have nothing to fear since they are on the side of tyranny masquerading as love of country. Its the freedom loving opponents of despotism that will suffer as always when totalitarianism carries the day. See you all in the Gulag, whether you are inflicting the torture or a fellow victim!

Good news - torture really works!

I''m sure we''ll all be very understanding when Americans are tortured overseas because people just want to save lives.

[random_radar]

notblue is one of those goose stepping, boot licking psuedo-patriotic jingoists on the side of tyranny masquerading as love of country. It is he who needs to wake up to the grim reality that America is turning fascist.

[notmygop]

Hi, notblue. Where does it stop, hmm? Do we as Americans trade every ethical and moral concept we hold dear just so a few can sleep a little easier at night? If we do, what the heck makes us any different than "them?"

[andor3]

"Even though I believe it''s torture, I think it was necessary at the time..."

This statement identifies this man as an unstable and questionable person. I would not believe another word he has said, especially regarding torture.

[williamfold]

"Even though I believe it''''s torture, I think it was necessary at the time..."

U.S. TRANSLATION:

"do as we say, not as we do. or else...we''ll invade under bogus reasons and occupy your country. that is, only if you have oil."

[navyretired2]

"notblue, Torture has been proven overall not to work because it produces false confessions as much as true confessions. Also, now because of one of the bills passed by the Republican lame duck congress and this adminstration, the president can declare ANYONE, an American citizen or not, an "enemy combatant" subject to torture, indefinite detention, and no habeas corpus (one of the hallmarks of our revolution). -- ttinsley"

Perform acts against the country that are treasonous, and you deserve what you get. I support this guy being waterboarded.

"Torture has historically been associated with governments that are despotic, repressive, and tyrannical. By unabashedly justifying their use of torture, our government leaders are broadcasting a message about who they are. Your congressional representatives have legalized the power to kidnap you, imprison you, torture you, and kill you as they see fit. -- jh6379"

They''re broadcasting the message, "if you commit a crime against the United States, we will no longer lay down and turn the other cheek, again and again, we''ll bust your sorry @$$!" About time.

[notblue]

To all you people who feel this type of interrogation technique is immoral and wrong please answer this. Would you trade thousands of innocent lives for this terrorists 30 seconds of torture? YOu people need to put this in perspective, he is NOT an American citizen, he is a terrorist trying to KILL. Which is the actual moral high ground here? Saving countless lives or the tough 30 second interrogation technique against a KNOWN terrorist??? It is clear and obvious to me.

[cbs_oliver]

It is strange that a nation that claims to be Christian so readily engages in depraved actions akin to crucifiction.

Part of this is attributable to the corruption of Christianity itself into a religion of killing and conquest during the time of Constantine and following.

Part of it is attributatble to the falseness of the claim of many to be followers of Christ''s teachings.

Whether or not torture works it is depraved and that should be reason enough to stop it.

[navyretired2]

"To all you people who feel this type of interrogation technique is immoral and wrong please answer this. Would you trade thousands of innocent lives for this terrorists 30 seconds of torture? YOu people need to put this in perspective, he is NOT an American citizen, he is a terrorist trying to KILL. Which is the actual moral high ground here? Saving countless lives or the tough 30 second interrogation technique against a KNOWN terrorist??? It is clear and obvious to me.

Posted by notblue at 12:07 PM : Dec 11, 2007"

Indeed.

Too bad this country has SO many bleeding-hearted, bed-wetting, crybabies. At least there''s some with the foresight and fortitude to stand up for the country, even if it at times requires harsh actions.

[fornicario]

So notblue, as a academic question, you would have no problems with Germany coming here, kidnapping and torturing Americans, all in the name of protecting Germany? According to your logic, they have just as much right to come here and round up Americans if they were facing the same collection of facts and hyperbole.

[realpatriot1]

notblue,

The agent made 2 compelling points. 1) After the waterboarding the detainee attibuted his confessions to a dream where Allah told him it was ok to cooperate in order to save other detainees. That would stongly imply that either the torture worked on this one guy or he''s lying and giving out false information to stop the torture.

2) The information provided led to the aborting of attacks. This is hte key where this guy is involved; the agent, who has every reason to rationalize his own actions, does not offer specifics(not that I would expect him to).

If we assume that what he''s saying is accurate and attacks were aborted in this instance there are other questions to ask about the program as a whole. How many other times was false info provided that agents had to chase down? How many others was this used on who weren''t up in the command structure? How many innocent people were subjected to this? Is this the only techniques that would''ve obtained the same information?

Even if all those questions can be answered positively there''s still another major concern. What have we given up in national honor, credibility in winning the hearts and minds of the Arab street, and how much have we compromised our moral authority among our allies and potential allies? How will that effect cooperation in twarting other attacks for which intelligence sharing is more important than individual confessions?

[notblue]

fornicio, if Americans were actively trying to destroy germany and kill as many of its citizens as possible using grand scale attacks with any means they could get there hands on then YES the Germans should try to capture and interrogate as many Amercians as possible to prevent such attrocities.

[notblue]

rokerro0666, I have NO fear of interrogation as I am a law abiding U.S. citizen. It is interesting and telling that you appear to have something to fear.

[navyretired2]

"The agent made 2 compelling points. 1) After the waterboarding the detainee attibuted his confessions to a dream where Allah told him it was ok to cooperate in order to save other detainees. That would stongly imply that either the torture worked on this one guy or he''s lying and giving out false information to stop the torture. -- realpatriot1"

That strongly implies to me, that he''s being your standard radical islamist, hyping up allah and junk, as usual. Notice he said that AFTER he was boarded, not DURING.

[newz4i]

Republican leadership of the last seven years has turned all Americans into barbarians. We are the most powerful terrorist organization world wide.

[aggiekat2004]

notblue and NavyRetired2...way to go. Amen.

[aggiekat2004]

Can someone explain what "waterboarding" really is?

[nggr]

I have NO fear of interrogation as I am a law abiding U.S. citizen. It is interesting and telling that you appear to have something to fear.

Posted by notblue at 12:29 PM : Dec 11, 2007

Maher arar was a law abiding canadian citizen on vacation, at the time with no fear of interrogation.
and then this happened to him,
"And the second day, that''s when the beatings started, because, you know, on the first day they did not find anything strange about what I told them, and they started beating me with a cable, electrical threaded cable, and they would beat me for three, four times. They would stop again, and they would ask questions again, and they always kept telling me, ''You are a liar,'' and things like that. So, the beating continued for the first two weeks. The most -- the most intensive -- the intensive beating was really the first week, and then after that it was mostly slapping, punching on the face and kicking."

but dont worry, i''m sure this couldn''t happen to you.

[j-whitman]

aggiekat2004,,,, Ask Bush, he says we don''t Waterbord

[bareemperor]

''This isn''t something done willy nilly. This isn''t something where an agency officer just wakes up in the morning and decides he''s going to carry out an enhanced technique on a prisoner,'' he said Tuesday on NBC''s ''Today'' show. ''This was a policy made at the White House, with concurrence from the National Security Council and Justice Department.''

So the USA does torture.

I pity our troops and the retaliation they will receive.

[theusa1st]

So let''s see....Muslim terrorist cut the heads of from innocent victims, hack of arms, legs. They tie them up and shoot them down...they car bomb and suicide bomb innocent victims, men women and children.
They try and kill as many people as possible all over the world, Algeria the latest victim from a never ending list. The people that are taking the side of the terrorists truly have no clue about what is happening on a global level. Give the terrorist another drink and see what he/she has to say...if we find out it isn''t the truth turn the faucet on high.

[hillaryin08]

Algore, Kerry and Murtha all got water boarded by the democrat party so whats the big deal?

[nggr]

Posted by theUSA1st at 12:52 PM : Dec 11, 2007

so you''re saying we shouldn''t distinguish our actions from what these a$$hole terrorists do.
you are saying that we are no better than terrorists.
you are saying that if its good enough for the terrorists then you are OK with it.
are you submitting to the terrorist mindset?
are their barbaric terrorist tactics working?
should we consider more severe torture tactics because the terrorists do?

[klifton2-2009]

After WW2, the international criminal courts hanged the Japanese responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, which included water boarding. Now, the Bush/Cheney used water boarding and want to rewrite the legislation that outlawed it. If this in not a criminal act, then what is? The Bush Administration is no better than the criminals they prosecute in our name. If America is truly a nation of laws and not a nation of men, then Bush and company MUST be held accountable. Not only are they liars, but they are criminals, period. America cannot preach about human rights and the rule of law when the likes of Bush and Cheney blatantly violate them. America should be better than the likes of Bush and Cheney. Until these rogues are given their day in the criminal courts, America''s image of fairness and rule of law will continue to be tarnished.