Lawmakers Demand Answers on CIA Tape Destruction
EmailABC News’ Pierre Thomas, Z. Byron Wolf, Theresa Cook, Jennifer Duck, Jonathan Karl and Ariane de Vogue Report: A Bush administration official tells ABC News that while the Justice Department has not launched a formal investigation into the CIA’s decision to destroy interrogation tapes, the department does plan to do some "fact finding" to determine what happened with the recordings.
In a statement to employees on Thursday, CIA Director Michael Hayden acknowledged that investigators taped interrogation sessions with detainees in 2002, and destroyed the tapes in 2005.
Hayden said the agency had no "legal or internal reason to keep them."
But the office of Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.V., the current chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, confirms that the tapes were the subject of an internal CIA inquiry that led the agency’s Inspector General office to draft a memo specifically addressing the tapes and their examination.
Rockefeller had requested that memo in writing in 2005, and during the same year, while he was minority vice chairman of the committee, he tried, unsuccessfully, to push for a full committee investigation of the CIA interrogation program.
As for the Justice Department, its review of facts will be done in part because of the call for an investigation by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., but also because as officers of the court, the department has obligation to ascertain the facts and see if these issues have any implication on any ongoing or recently concluded judicial proceedings, such as the Zacarias Moussaoui terrorism case.
Durbin, the Senate majority whip, took to the Senate floor late Friday, calling on Attorney General Michael Mukasey to investigate the CIA’s actions regarding the tapes.
"I was troubled to learn that Central Intelligence Agency officials destroyed videotapes of detainees being subjected to so-called ‘enhanced interrogation techniques,’" Durbin wrote in a letter to the attorney general.
"I urge you to investigate whether CIA officials who destroyed these videotapes and withheld information about their existence from official proceedings violated the law."
During his statement on the Senate floor, Durbin raised the point that there could be potential obstruction of justice issues, because the destroyed tapes were not available for official proceedings, such as court hearings and the 9/11 Commission’s investigation.
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino told reporters at a Friday afternoon briefing that President Bush had "no recollection of being made aware of the tapes or their destruction before yesterday," but declined to comment on what other top administration officials might have known about the tapes.
"I know that the CIA director is gathering facts and our White House counsel’s office is supporting them in that. Whether or not there is going to be an investigation to that scale is will have to be determined by others," she said in reference to Durbin’s request to the Justice Department.
Reiterating Bush’s "complete confidence" in Hayden, Perino defended the CIA’s interrogation program. Calling it "limited" and "tough," she said it has saved lives and "has led to the capture of individuals — terrorists — who had information that was able to lead us to others."
When pressed on why the agency would destroy the tapes if the program was aboveboard, Perino would not comment, referring reporters to Hayden’s statement.
Hayden said the recordings no longer held intelligence value, as they had been detailed in written reports, and that the methods used during the taped sessions were reviewed by the government and deemed legal.
He added that the recordings were destroyed because they "posed a serious security risk. Were they ever to leak, they would permit identification of your CIA colleagues who had served in the program, exposing them and their families to retaliation from al Qaeda and its sympathizers."
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., called that a "pitiful excuse" Friday. Levin, who supported Durbin’s call for a criminal investigation into the destruction of the tapes, pointed out it is already against the law to identify an undercover CIA agent.
Though Hayden insists in the statement that the process was carried out "in line with the law" and that the leaders of Congressional oversight committees "were informed of the videos years ago and of the Agency’s intention to dispose of the material," members of Congress have taken issue with Hayden’s assertions.
Durbin and Levin are not the only Democrats on Capitol Hill questioning the CIA’s decisions.
Rockefeller said in a statement that the while panel members "were provided with very limited information about the existence of the tapes, we were not consulted on their usage nor the decision to destroy the tapes."
He is now calling for a full review of the "history and chronology of the tapes, how they were used and the reasons for destroying them."
Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., who was the top Democrat on the House Intel Committee when she received a classified briefing on CIA interrogation practices in 2003, said, "The briefing raised a number of serious concerns and led me to send a letter to the General Counsel."
"Both the briefing and my letter are classified so I cannot reveal specifics, but I did caution against destruction of any videotapes," her statement continued.
Representatives Silvestre Reyes of Texas and Michigan’s Pete Hoekstra — respectively the top Democrat and top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee — have written an extraordinarily tough letter to Hayden.
They say his statement on when and how Congress was informed about the tapes destruction "simply is not true."
They also demand that Hayden "refrain from destroying any further records, documents, or other information related to detainees and interrogations."
Santorum Clarifies Concerns on Women in Combat 
Gulf of Mexico to Become Gulf of America?
Yeah, right? The CIA will disavow any knowledge of anything it does. It’s not Radio Shack, when the People and Congress have questions, the CIA does not have, or won’t give, answers.
Posted by: Michael Chlanda | December 7, 2007, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
lol. like the senate has any power. bunch of losers.
Posted by: MarinesCallmedoc5 | December 7, 2007, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm
the new gestapoes, remember they liked to tape their killings also, it is only a matter of time, till the jack boots are walking on our rights here, this administration treats the american citizens like worms,
Posted by: 43beenthere43 | December 7, 2007, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
U.S. President George W. Bush has no recollection of being told about CIA interrogation tapes and their destruction before he was briefed by the CIA director on Thursday, the White House said.
“I asked the president about whether he knew about the tapes and their existence or their destruction, he said he had no recollection of that. He did not remember being made aware of those prior to yesterday morning,” White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said on Friday.
*** Good on ya Bush – deny everything to the last that might show the world what an idiot you truly are!
Posted by: America - A Nation Of Sheep | December 7, 2007, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
How dare the Senate demand answers from the Firm.Look at CIA website.It’s full of hypocritical mush and sentimentality.They condiser themselves a community and a family.So does the Manson family.I have a great deal more respect for the Gambinos than I do for them.The Gambinos make very little pretense about what they are.I wonder what else the Firm might be hiding about their black operations within US borders.All you have to do is slap people with National Security Letters and the Bush and Clinton clans can invoke their Emergency Powers Act(see White House website for 11/9/2007) and you have your own internal Gulag with ghost prisoners.You would not believe what is going on inside your own borders.
Posted by: Luis Rodriguez | December 7, 2007, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm
Reminds you of the Nazi regime hurriedly burying evidence of their attrocities.
The Bush adninistration is pulling on all the stops to conceal their crimes.
As usual congress is impotent.
George Bush does not recall being told about the interrogation tapes. When will a person in authority, who should know, be held accountable for ‘not recalling?’
Posted by: wavecurve | December 7, 2007, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
This administration will be “ruining” the country for nearly another year. Can citizens wait that long?
Posted by: NW | December 7, 2007, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
I blame the Republicans for Congressional impotency. They are the majority, but until we have 60 Dems (or 60 senators who will stand up to the Administration), the Administration rules. Sad situation.
Posted by: Marilyn | December 7, 2007, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
The interrogation tapes posed a “security risk” because they might be leaked, so the CIA destoyed them? That is the lamest excuse ever. Isn’t the CIA full of sensitive data, including information on their operatives, that wold also pose a security risk if leaked? Why destroy these tapes but nothing else?
Posted by: D | December 7, 2007, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
They waterboard these guys to give false confessions about 911. I say false becacuse our government blew those buildings up. Now that they have found that waterboarded confessions are not tolerated they destroyed them.
What happened to WTC building #7 and why does everyone look surprised to find out that three buldings fell on 911 and not two?
Posted by: JD | December 7, 2007, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
This is what happened. Right after 911 they knew the American people wanted revenge so they waterboarded false confessions out of so-called terrorists to use as proof but change that stance and went with the Bin Laden video as proof. Since the false confessions are no longer needed they destroyed the videos. That simple.
Posted by: JD | December 7, 2007, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
Aggressive interrogative practices do not sit well with our high ethical and moral standards, yet presented with the worst situation imaginable, most of us would commit to it without hesitation. To deny that we would, is just a lie we tell ourselves so we still feel civilized. Thankfully, most of us will never find ourselves in such a dilemma.
We are in a battle with an enemy that seeks nothing less than our extinction, and is willing to sacrifice everything, including their own lives and those of their loved ones to bring that desire to ruition. Yes, we must have laws and order as a civilized society, but we are not engaged in battle with a foe whom fights by our standards or rules of engagement. Killing another human is considered a moral sin, yet we justify it when defending our own lives, and even simple possessions.
None of the detainees have been murdered, or beheaded as our hostages have been in the homeland of the enemy. None of our detainees are made to renounce their country, their government, their families, or their god in front of an internet audience to intimidate our enemies. They keep all their fingers, toes, and other body parts attached. We don’t find out where our detainees live and capture their families and kill them one by one in front of them until they confess.
It is naive for us to think we will not “lower” ourselves to aggressive interrogation practices. We have proven time and again that when the situation “warrants” it, we will get answers by whatever means are necessary. Do I think that is right? No, but is it right for a lamb to die so I can have my lamb chops? Who knows. I am glad I do not have to do it, and I do not stand in judgment of the farmer who does. It is also ignorant for people to compare what we do in our quest for information that may save us all, to the tactics of our enemy. To them, we are the lambs. Our bleating will not make them turn and go away. “We cannot fight them the way we are.”
Posted by: EmbracetheDarkness | December 7, 2007, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
A lot of the ‘evidence’ that 9/11 was perpetrated by Bin Laden was in the form of ‘confessions’ by two or three key prisoners. There was some doubt as to the veracity of the confessions due to severe duress placed during the torture. Now we come to find there’s not even a record of the confessions? This throws the government’s 9/11 theory into question even further.
Posted by: Eric | December 7, 2007, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm
U.S. Senate: While your at it, ask why the woman that came here and set-up a fake marriage with an American was allowed to participate??? For whatever reason, that story was quickly ignored by the media…..
Posted by: Joe | December 7, 2007, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
Some neo-con on here said, “We are in a battle with an enemy that seeks nothing less than our extinction”.
The only enemy I see in the room are people like you who continue to perpetrate the myth of ‘good’ us vs. ‘evil’ them, with war being the only solution. You neo-conservative fools got us into the mess in Iraq, and ALMOST got us into another mess with Iran. Thank God ‘good’ forces within our own government stopped you neo-cons dead in your tracks trying to lie your way into yet another conflict. The days of endless war and endless profits for your defense contractor cronies are over. Did anyone notice that as soon as the private security firm scandal hit and was exposed that suddenly the violence level in Iraq decreased? Strange coincidence, huh…
Posted by: Eric | December 7, 2007, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
It feels like the 9/11 dam is about to break. Gird yourself, America. Can you handle the truth?
Posted by: Bill | December 7, 2007, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
Predictably, such an article brings out every KOOK to express his/her idiotic opinions about the matter of protecting America from foreign attacks. It is significant that this article is published on Pearl Harbor Day (KOOKs, FYI it was the day the Japanese attacked the American Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. The Dems in Washington had watched the Japanese overrun a good part of China and did nothing – as the Liberal KOOKs want us to do now. Dumb-Dumbs, I was in that was and I do not wish to be in another, so shut up and hope those brave men who are fighting to save your collective and worthless A%#es are successful. I don’t recall any liberal at any time, anywhere, ever criticizing the Japanese for the Bataan Death March, about which none of you KOOKs probably have ever heard. That was real torture, not petty stuff like our forces do to enemy combatants today to obtain valuable information to protect America.
Posted by: TheOldTrooper | December 7, 2007, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm
The Bush “SLIMEBALL” SS Administration and
all of congress, both democrats and
republicans make me want to puke!!!!!!
Posted by: Marie | December 7, 2007, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
Water board Bush until he can remember…He is now taking a page out of the Gonzales play book..”I don’t know”??? The worlds biggest liar..407 more days of this piece of garbage.
Posted by: Joe MUrphy | December 7, 2007, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm
Who would Jesus waterboard? Torture? The America we used to know has been lost to evil warmongering Neocon maniacs. Supporting Neocons is like supporting Satan.Neocons are traitors to the true American way.
Posted by: AJ | December 7, 2007, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
This person “We are in a battle with an enemy that seeks nothing less than our extinction, and is willing to sacrifice everything, including their own lives and those of their loved ones to bring that desire to ruition (It’s fruition)” is exactly why we should not be using techniques that are unconstitutional, violates a treaty and world law! This is nothing more than a rationalization, exactly what is wrong with the current administration. Their assurance that they have gleaned important information by torturing people flies in the face of what we do know about psychologically about people who are tortured. You get the most unreliable information that way.
Bush claims he didn’t know about them and the lying CIA director says they needed them. For what, entertainment?
This administration lies about lying. They are criminals and should be treated as such. If we stoop to the level of terrorist, then what does that say about is? I imagine many in Iran would consider us that, and if someone invaded the US, started killing civilians, I would be doing a lot worse than they are doing!
This nation is full off hypocrites and it really makes me angry that we are actually worse than those who we claim are “our enemy”! I would think by our words and actions we are our worst enemy and people like Bush should be thrown out of office. Why Nancy Pelosi doesn’t draw up a warrant for impeachment against Bush and Cheney is beyond me. This administration are crooks, thieves and liars!
Posted by: conncordcan | December 7, 2007, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
OldTrooper, I am conservative and I believe that elements within the Bush administration perpetrated 9/11. I believe the goal was to provide a casus belli for the invasion of the Middle East. I believe they are in the process of getting exposed for their heinous crimes. Once again, I’m not a liberal KOOK writing this.
Posted by: Bill | December 7, 2007, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
Are you blaming 9/11 on our own government. And the majority of you are hypocrites blaming the white house for the worlds woes. Get a grip. I am starting to think that this site if full of mixed up nuts. Does any of you know the job of the CIA? Do you really think the CIA should divulge sensitive, secret or top secret data to the world? Let’s just give al queda our entire play book while you are at it. In 20 years, when the ideology of terrorism is destroyed, GW will be looked at as the hero who started the most daring visionary war; defeating terrorist in every corner of our globe. While loser dems and libs cried foul. Dems and Libs will be looked at for what they truly are: close and empty minded losers who would surrender or negotiate until the last American female has there head covered. What is a terrorist? Who wants them destroyed? Only our excellent troops, GW and his loyal republican supporters.
Posted by: MarinesCallmeDoc5 | December 7, 2007, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
They claim the tapes were destroyed to protect the identities of their CIA agents from Taliban and Al Queda retribution.
Protection from retribution, or protection from prosecution?
Posted by: tixMoff | December 7, 2007, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
I am blaming 9/11 on our own government.
Posted by: Bill | December 7, 2007, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm
Dem and lib scum. How dare you blame our government for 9/11. You are a bunch of cowards, traitors and losers. It has been proven that muslim terrorist hijacked planes. You give Gw way too much credit. Do you really think he is smart enough to pull of the greatest hoax in histroy? Muslim terrorist, extremist and insurgents are laughing at all of you dems and libs. In there eyes, they are winning the war on terrorism because you are shaking in your boots. Man up a little. Obl is hiding in caves, cowering in holes and on the run every day. I have a feeling that he will be caught and destroyed around May next year. Just in time for the republican supporters to take the white house again. You guys are pathetic. You are already too weak to do that. Support your troops and s*h*u*t da heck up.
Posted by: MarinesCallmeDoc5 | December 7, 2007, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
When will so many who enjoy the priviledge of being an American learn they are only aiding and abetting the enemy when they write such comments noted here, or demonstrate in the streets etc. We are fighting an enemy of cowards who have no regard for life, not even their own. Further, when will the congress of this great nation get down to the real business they were elected to do. Everyone blames the president for the mess the country seems to be in, but, tell me, what are the senators/congressmen doing to help. The founders of this country must be rolling around in their graves while they watch the inadequate performance of our members of congress. God bless America, please, we surely need his help.
Posted by: Dollymar70 | December 7, 2007, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
Dolly, you are aiding and abetting the enemy — you just don’t know it. Those marching in the street for truth are the true patriots.
Don’t ever forget it.
Posted by: Bill | December 7, 2007, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
Like the destruction of this tape is the first illegal act we need to be concerned about since the idiot took office. If we all focus on the tape then what aren’t we supposed to be looking at?
Posted by: linashkam | December 7, 2007, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
Yahoo headlines read, “Bush denies knowing of tapes.”
If it ever made it to court that’d be the excuse that’d get him a non-guilty verdict — hell, afterall, he never knew anything else while Prez.
Posted by: sylvester_katt | December 7, 2007, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
If we had a competent President,Bin Ladin would have been caught a long time ago,and the Talban would have been extinct by now. Bush screwed up and why a few people support this loser is beyond belief. I support Bush and his criminal enterprize being impeached and on trial for all the criminal acts they have committed.
Posted by: AJ | December 7, 2007, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Does anyone notice how many people here who claim to be above using aggression, humilation, insults, threats, and intimidation to get at the “truth”, don’t seem to mind using those same tactics when it comes to speaking their “minds” here? Talk about hypocrites. While I’m not proud of it, at least I was being honest when I said we would all commit torture under the worst circumstances. We can deny on a stack of Bibles that we are this way, history reveals we behave otherwise.
Posted by: EmbracetheDarkness | December 7, 2007, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
Bill: I don’t think I need to respond to your absolutely idiotic suggestion that someone in the Bush Administration arranged for 9/11. Even if they had wanted to do so, which they did not, there was not sufficient time to recruit the Arabs who flew the planes, etc, in place and carry it off. And, there was really no reason to invade the “middle
East” until 9/11 occurred.
Moreover, the excellent comments of “marinescallmedoc5″ has already answered your inane remarks as well as, or perhaps better, than I could.
Posted by: TheOldTrooper | December 7, 2007, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
‘”None of the detainees have been murdered, or beheaded as our hostages have been in the homeland of the enemy!”
North Vietnam did not take prisoners with the exception of officer pilots for political purposes! This is another rationalization which is totally untrue.
There are many instances of people who have disappeared after their capture where they were transported to secret CIA Torture camps that were put illegally in other countries so they had no access to the US Supreme Court!Those who never returned we will never know about, and I suspect a few of them are on the tapes. If as Bush says, “We don’t torture”, then why do we have torture camps run by the CIA?
No detainees have been murdered. My what selective memory we have! Ever heard of The Abu Ghraib Prison!
How naive you all are! And I suspect none of you have ever been in combat!
Posted by: concordcan | December 7, 2007, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
Who said the US government perpetrated 9/11. The Mossad is a much more likely culprit. They’ve seemed to have already duped the US into invading Iraq for them. They almost got away with duping a war with Iran too.
How did these Mossad agents know that 9/11 was going to happen exactly when it did, such that they were able to document it from across the river as it happened?
Posted by: Eric | December 7, 2007, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
Surely you jest when you would blame torture of US soldiers “in the future” on President Bush. Have you never heard of Mogadishu, where in 1993 (Bubba’s era) American soldiers were dragged naked through the streets? Better do some research before you make more of a fool of yourself.
Posted by: TheOldTrooper | December 7, 2007, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm
My goodness. America is in for a seismic shock when they learn the truth about 9/11, which is little more than a slightly veiled secret at this point. Even the former Italian president came out and said that it’s clear 9/11 was an “inside job”. He must be an an anti-American liberal traitor.
Posted by: Bill | December 7, 2007, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
Like I said, the same people opposed to aggression, humiliation, intimidation, insults, etc., to get at the truth, never seem to mind using the same tactics when they want us to swallow their version of it. It’s a little hard to believe these people have such restraint, when they demonstrate so little here.
Posted by: EmbracetheDarkness | December 7, 2007, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
You people sicken me. Why don’t you all go and live in an Islamic country with those you love so much.
Posted by: Bob | December 7, 2007, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
I can see this session of Congress is turning into another joke. If they really want to see the water boarding interrogration they can volunteer and the public can ask them questions. I doubt there will be any takers from the fakers. The truth about Iraq is that Democrats and Republicans alike voted on it. Whining gets publicity and they are getting plenty of it.
Posted by: Superman | December 7, 2007, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm
They had to desgtroy them. They are a secret organization. Hello? If they didn’t destroy them, we’d be watching them on CNN, Fox and Al Jazeera. I agree with Carl Levin and he should start his investigation by looking into the mirror and ask himself this “Which side am I really on?”
Posted by: Chas | December 7, 2007, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
I am sorry, I have to use the word bafoon again. Why is it that the bell ringers who are so anti President Bush have so much hate that they want to afford terrorists and military foreign prisoners rights of American citizens. Such bafoons. Why doesn’t the media report this? These liberal senators who have sided with terrorists instead of the US should be censured and deported to Iran. They will love you there, show THEM your love.
Posted by: sumterala | December 7, 2007, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
The problem is we would not be watching them on CNN or FOX. In forgeting their responsability to be real journalists they just show us what the Corporate Govenment wants us to see.
Posted by: GM | December 7, 2007, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
Bush needs to step up to the plate and own this. He more then likely approved unethical interrogations of so-called “detainees”.He wanted the tapes destroyed because it makes him look bad. Look at GITMO. that violates every human right known to man. If you oppose Bush you either get thrown in jail or oppressed, when you boil it down it’s dictatorship. Bush needs to stop ridding the world of evil and take care of business at home. Education, health care, climate change, economy, seniors and boarder control are just to name a few. It must really suck to know that your tax dollars are funding a useless war and not being spent on programs to better your own lives. Well…. God Bless America
Posted by: DJ | December 7, 2007, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
If you have hardcopy transcripts, do you really need the videos? Probably not. Is this another politically motivated headline grabber? Probably. If I was a journalist I would want the video because it shows the technique and some guy gagging and spitting up water. With this in mind, the video is damning evidence. The transcripts are old news. Even UBL himself claimed responsibility for the attacks on 9/11.
Posted by: CABJLB23 | December 7, 2007, 5:05 pm 5:05 pm
Bush is going to have a long list of pardons to hand out at the end of his term. I wonder if he will pardon everyone in his administration, resign, and then have Cheney pardon him.
Posted by: Pardonsforall | December 7, 2007, 5:18 pm 5:18 pm
Someone said, “Even UBL himself claimed responsibility for the attacks on 9/11.” Actually, no he didn’t. In the weeks immediately following 9/11 he released two video tapes denying any involvement in 9/11. You can find this information using GOOGLE. It was only several years later where unauthenticated audio tapes had what is assumed to be Bin Laden’s voice taking responsibility. Now that the CIA ‘destroyed’ the only other ‘confessions’, it is becoming more difficult to believe the government’s theory on 9/11.
Posted by: Eric | December 7, 2007, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
“During his statement on the Senate floor, Durbin raised the point that there could be potential obstruction of justice issues…”
The problem with the Democrats is that they are more concerned with proteting the non-existent rights of non US citizen terrorists than winning the war on terror. They need to re-examine who they represent.
Posted by: Steve | December 7, 2007, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
This administration is doing a great job of making sure there is no paper trail left behind. I can’t beging to imagine all the stuff that has really gone down, besides this country.
Posted by: daledm1 | December 7, 2007, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
CABJLB23 — Bin Laden denied responsibility for 9/11 on Sep 16, 2001, in a tape aired on Al Jazeera. Then, a full three YEARS later, in Oct. 2004, the tape which you reference surfaced. This tape, miraculously found by US forces in a house raid, shows an extremely overweight Bin Laden look-alike saying the opposite of the denials given on Sep. 16, 2001. Even Professor Bruce Lawrence of Duke University’s religious studies program has stated his view that the Oct. 2004 tape is bogus.
Posted by: Eric | December 7, 2007, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm
i think that you should get off the cia. look at all the horible things done by terrorists. when you are at war some times you have to get dirty to get things done. as americans weve gotten soft and want to be nice to our enemys. we have got to do what we can to protect our selves in america. why dont you as press start publicicing the other side of all this (what our enemy is and has done and doing at this present time)
Posted by: jim | December 7, 2007, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm
okay this is fresh, news reporters and goverment , think about , they really think we are all that stupid, rats are rats plan and simple , covert goverment , local or higher up , has never changed liars all think about people, we the people what a joke , we the powerful more like it when are they actuaaly going to do the job they were hired for , steal from us second nature , so think what they say , watch out for the great craw daddy , the days of the castle on the hill needs to end , revolution in the USA is over due , wait , wait for it , i am no longer.
Posted by: Keith Mehnert | December 7, 2007, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm
Eric – I’m familiar with Professor Lawrence and his views on OBL and Al Qaeda. In this case, he is what I view as an academic whose politics get in the way of thoughtful analysis. His conclusion about the tape is an opinion that that I find unsubstantiated and therefore I don’t agree with his assertion. In terms of the GWOT, I prefer to view Al Qaeda’s works as a whole. The calls for jihad (The Lawrence definition of jihad UBL would disagree.), terrorist attacks in Africa, Yemen, Richard Reed, operations of AQI in Iraq, etc show that Al Qaeda’s mission and objectives are clear. From our perspective, UBL may have a thin veil of plausible deniability which is undoubtedly a haven for conspiracy theorists.
Posted by: CABJLB23 | December 7, 2007, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
You know, I read these comments from across the spectrum and I am totally amazed. “TheOldTrooper” and “MarinesCallMe Doc5″ make some good points. But it’s much more complex than that. A nation should have faith in its elected leaders no matter thier political affliation. But you must admit that GWB has totally dropped the ball with the public trusting him. A nation cannot exist when it’s leaders takes them on foriegn adventures based on disinformation. Don’t care about thier intentions, or what they thought they were doing. An invasion based on contempt always ends badly. Just ask the Germans and Japanese veterans about that. Ask the guys from Nam (Tht’s something I know a little about firsthand) GWB should be impeached and then thrown into prison with Cheney. Historians will not laud him as “Great” in his vision. They will probably conclude “The Less said about this moron the better…”
Posted by: Budspoke | December 7, 2007, 7:06 pm 7:06 pm
Regarding your C.I.A. story:
What part of SECRET, COVERT AGENCY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND? I can say with great certainty that a majority of the America people do not want to know what the men and women of the C.I.A., F.B.I., and other0 O.G.A.’s have see and deal with on a daily basis. The same goes for the men and woman in our military. I’ll go one step further, not even on the same level as those mentioned. The men and women of law enforcement. I know this for a fact because I have been a street cop for the past 24 years and intend to keep doing so. So ABC and the other major networks need to get a grip on reality on what keeps our country safe. Trust me, you don’t really want to know. Just know that you are!
Posted by: E. Lancaster | December 7, 2007, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm
Eric; it’s the ears! Gotta go. LPTB
Posted by: CABJLB23 | December 7, 2007, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
Please Please Mr. terrorist…. Please tell us what you plan to do… We will give you some candy… Of all the countries that use extreme torture techniques to persecute others and even there own people, why does ABC news choose to focus on the CIA??? Politics of course. ..Two tapes… What a big scandel…. This country is coming apart at the seams and the media can do nothing but contribute by creating nonsensical news… It is great to see all those Dems up there talking about the real issues :-) NOT
Posted by: Absolute truth | December 7, 2007, 7:24 pm 7:24 pm
Whats really scary is that most of these Senators have been in office half their lives and everyone wants to blame the President. Who do you think all these special interest groups pay homage to?? Not George W Bush that is for sure….If we knew half of pork the senate sent home they would be on trial…. Oh yeah who oversees the Senate anyway??? Ted Kennedy??? He knows all about coverups.
Posted by: Absolute truth | December 7, 2007, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
Typical democrats just looking to pick on CIA and Bush administration to “protect” the rights of terrorists. Give me a break. How else are you suppose to interrogate terrorists anyway…sitting down and having some tea and biscuits? This is a waste of time, money and energy on these people. They have more rights than any prisoners we have in our jails. Why aren’t their rights probed like those of the terrorists?
Posted by: cbeargal | December 7, 2007, 7:33 pm 7:33 pm
Jim – You are absolutely correct. Says it all.
Posted by: Chas | December 7, 2007, 7:33 pm 7:33 pm
The traitors are your beloved democrats who haven’t done squat in years, and never will. Nothing but gutless cowards who relentlessly lied to you democrats to get themselves voted into office.
Posted by: cbeargal | December 7, 2007, 7:54 pm 7:54 pm
Bush is a phoney,he swearved in wartime,I served. Bush was awol,drunk and all coked up during Vietnam,some hero he is! Born with a silver spoon in his mouth,Bush has never worked a day in his life! Bush is the worst President ever! Wake up! He’s a criminal along with Cheney and the rest of his criminal enterprise.
Posted by: AJ | December 7, 2007, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm
Bush has never met a law he didn’t want to break. Fact! He’s a criminal,and a coward!
Posted by: AJ | December 7, 2007, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
Did they destroy them because of torture, or because they don’t want their shocking testimony to get out?
Posted by: Jeff D | December 7, 2007, 9:57 pm 9:57 pm
After thinking about this whole affair, it dawn on me that maybe we shouldn’t blame the president. Instead, blame Congress, both parties, for the logjam and deterioration of this country. Maybe, Americans can rectify the problem by demanding term limits on federal office holders (senate and representatives). They make promises and more promises and get richer and richer. If the president can only serve two terms, then by God do the same in Congress. Join EPBS – “End the Partisan Bulls**t”
Posted by: sek | December 8, 2007, 12:23 am 12:23 am
The Bush administration including Bush himself must be all suffering from demensia. Nobody can remember a thing. Is it something in the water or what? Smart politicians learn from their mistakes,since Bush has never made a mistake,he’s never learned a thing.
Posted by: AJ | December 8, 2007, 9:03 am 9:03 am
Lemme see, who was it that declared water boarding actual torture? Oh yeah. The same libs liars and other dems who said that we had already lost the war because if we would win it, it would be “bad for the party” You sound like your compadres the (fake) Rev Sharton and the (phony) Rev Jackson running around looking for another false controversy.
Posted by: gary t. | December 8, 2007, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm
Any “torture” you stand up and walk away from is hazing, not torture. Maybe they should all stand around and write their names in the snow together and just have a heart to heart chat with really really tough questions.
Also, kudos cbeargal. Just what I wanted to say.
Posted by: gary t. | December 8, 2007, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
What is the BIG DEAL about shredding a few CIA tapes???? Bush shredded the U.S. Constitution 7 years ago…
Posted by: Joe MUrphy | December 8, 2007, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
While I certainly am not soft on terrorism, why did they pick Guantanemo Bay for the “suspected” terrorist holding tank? The Administration knew full well the legal hurdles that would have to be mounted to 1.) Forced closing the jail would be next to impossible 2.) being held accountable would not be easily forced, 3.) Prisoners would have NO rights whatsoever, 4.) American law would not be recognized or have to be followed. Guantanamo is a quagmire and they like it that way, just like everything else the Administration has done since 2000. The additional damage done is in reference to our National identity and credibility around the world. Guantanamo has done more to damage our image as just about all the other idiotic feats combined. How and why this Administration has had a “blank check” to ignore the United States Constitution will be studied for years to come. GBW; the missing link.
Posted by: therockofages | December 8, 2007, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
TheOldTrooper,
How fitting that you point out this information came out on the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor–the seminal event that got us into WWII. I’m trying to imagine what those “old troopers” who fought and died for the country they loved would think about making this ultimate sacrifice for a president who lies, disgraces us with his casual acceptance of torture that would make any Fascist proud and who blithely castrates the Constitution when it suits him.
Posted by: Michele | December 8, 2007, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
Marilyn: You are obviously another
Misinformed Democrat!
It was the Democrats in the Senate who
set up the 60 vote rule and now it has come back to bite them!
Posted by: reaganfan | December 9, 2007, 12:41 am 12:41 am