The White House and Congress Knew of the CIA Interrogation Tapes

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December 13, 2007 at 10:39:23

The White House and Congress Knew of the CIA Interrogation Tapes

by George Washington Page 1 of 1 page(s)

http://www.opednews.com

According to a former "senior intelligence official", the White House knew of the existence of the CIA interrogation tapes since 2003 at the very latest, and tacitly approved the destruction of the tapes in 2005 (that's why the White House has instructed its spokesperson not to answer any questions on the subject).

And according to the Director of the CIA, Congress was also informed about the existence of the tapes, and -- later -- of the CIA's intention to destroy them.

So it cannot be argued that only a couple of rogue people in the CIA knew about the tapes and subsequently decided to destroy them. The obstruction of justice of the 9/11 Commission's investigation and of investigations regarding torture were orchestrated by the very highest levels of the U.S. Government.

http://georgewashington.blogspot.com/

George Washington

George Washington is a pen name. I am using the pen name, with the approval of the publisher, because I have received death threats due to my 9/11 research and writing. I am using a pen name to protect myself and my family.

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3 comments

Conservative prolife anti-death penalty tree hugger. Believe that less government is good government, government cannot solve anyone's personal problems, the government taking money from one group of people and giving it to another group of people is a crime, and that people should take responsibility for their own lives.
Mad JayhawkConservative prolife anti-death penalty tree hugger. Believe that less government is good government, government cannot solve anyone's personal problems, the government taking money from one group of people and giving it to another group of people is a crime, and that people should take responsibility for their own lives.

Confusing

There are two issues here, the existence of the tapes and their destruction. The article is confusing to me.

It seems to me that a lot of people probably knew about the tapes including members of congress from both parties and the administration. That interrogations were being taped should not be surprising to anyone and is not illegal. It makes sense to do so. And it should not be surprising that a variety of techniques were being used in the interrogations because members of congress from both parties and the administration were informed about the techniques being used and there were no objectives.

The CIA destroyed the tapes. Who authorized their destruction is a question that has been answered. Whether they should have taken the decision or did take the decison further up the chain of command to be signed off on is a question I have not seen answered.

Whether destroying the tapes was illegal is a question I am sure the CIA investigated at the time they destroyed the tapes. Destroying records is governed by a myraid of policies and laws and the decision to destroy the tapes would not have been made lightly without someone signing off its legality. If there was any question as to whether it was either illegal or ill-advised politically to destroy the tapes I would imagine that the decision would have been kicked 'upstairs'. If it is legal to destroy the tapes then there is no problem with who knew or who may have authorized it.

It is easy to blame Bush or to implicate him in the decision to destroy (legally or illegally?) the tapes based on someone described as a former senior intelligence official anomonyous statements. Some facts would be helpful before smearing someone.

by Mad Jayhawk (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 205 comments) on Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 4:15:16 PM