The CIA’s Disappearing Act
Candide's Notebooks / December 6
Let's not pretend to be surprised. The Times reports that "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 C.I.A’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 C.I.A. 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.” Porter Goss , Bush's executioner, headed the agency at the time. How quickly they circle the wagons: the demolition of the tapes was a decision made inside the CIA, the agency claims, and to protect CIA operatives. At least in Nixon's time the lies were more imaginative, even if the crimes weren't. The full Times bit... |
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