Harriet Miers Knew of Destruction of Interrogation Tapes

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

Harriet Miers Knew of Destruction of Interrogation Tapes

ABC News has learned that at least one White House official knew about the CIA's planned destruction of videotapes in 2005 that documented the interrogation of two al Qaeda operatives: then-White House counsel Harriet Miers.

Three officials told ABC News Miers urged the CIA not to destroy the tapes.

Intelligence officials say the decision to destroy the tapes was made by Jose Rodriguez, former head of the CIA's covert-operations division. Even former CIA director Porter Goss did not know the tapes were destroyed. The White House said today President Bush didn't know either.

Congress is now demanding to know why the CIA destroyed those tapes, just as its interrogation methods were facing intense public scrutiny. To some prominent members of Congress there's only one explanation: a coverup.

Democratic Senate leaders compared the CIA's actions to the Watergate scandal.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., asked, "What would cause the CIA to take this action? The answer is obvious -- coverup." "What is at stake here goes to the heart of the rule of law and justice in America," said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=3971180&page=1

[PSPS]

1. So, big-talking dems, what are you going to do about it? Another "strongly worded letter?"

[msongs]

2. maybe more subpoenas they have no intention of ever enforcing? nt

[mwb970]

17. I think it's time for a major, and I mean *major* leafletting campaign. /nt

[mamameow]

35. horses' ass

so big guy what would you do if someone will not follow the rule of law? especially when he is the prez? arrest him? how many guards does bush have protecting him(probably blackwater)? the reason this country has survived is the majority of us follow the rule of law, only dictators do not and that is what we have. if you have a solution, give it to congress. have you thought that maybe the bushies want congress to get tied up in an impeachment fight and take our eyes and money off the campaign????!!!!!

[Gregorian]

3. OH, I was wondering about this.

It's all happening so fast now I wonder if the White House will catch fire.

I'm betting that someone has backup tapes. Just a hunch. Bush has enough enemies that someone might just come forward with the damage.

[bluesmail]

7. oh god,that gives me a little bit of hope, thanks

[Turbineguy]

4. She knew

but then she forgot.

So she now has no recollection.

[rodeodance]

5. Bush could have put out an ORDER not to destroy but he just let it happen.

[Kool Kitty]

13. I wouldn't be surprised to hear

that he had destroyed the tapes himself.

[rodeodance]

6. ayden made no apologies for the tapes' destruction insisting the decision to destroy them was "in li

Members of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission also expressed concern. Co-Chairman Tom Kean said the Commission had demanded all information about the interrogations and was never told about the tapes.

"They knew what they had and they didn't give it to us," Kean said.

In a message to employees Thursday, CIA Director Michael Hayden made no apologies for the tapes' destruction insisting the decision to destroy them was "in line with the law."

In 2002, the CIA videotaped the interrogations of two terror suspects, including top al Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah. The tapes showed what the CIA calls "enhanced interrogation techniques," methods which critics call torture.

In February 2003, the CIA says it told the leaders of congressional intelligence committees about the tapes and that it planned to destroy them.

[defendandprotect]

8. I bet there are more tapes than this --- and makes clear how handy Auntie Harriet

would have been on the Supreme Court --- !!!

[PuraVidaDreamin]

20. ayden an abed-ding

works for me

[bjobotts]

9. Senate intel com. knew of tapes. Everybody act surprised.

I believe Bush works for the CIA not the other way around.

[Puppyjive]

10. A Special Thanks To GWB

Does anyone realize who is going to get the beating over this injustice? The American Soldier. Their interrogation techniques will eventually bring death to American soldiers. The only prayer a prisoner of war has is the Geneva Conventions, and when America does not play by the rules, why should anyone else? What is this world going to be like when my 5 year old son becomes a man? As a veteran, I feel I could never encourage anyone to join the military until we have a different president. I just want GWB to know that I worked very hard to make our country a better place and I feel that anything that was gained is now lost because of him. My middle class place in society has fallen a notch or two thanks to GWB and his war.

[calimary]

11. Welcome to DU!

No kidding. It makes our troops less safe, and it thus makes ALL THE REST OF US less safe, also.

I remember during Gulf War One, when Iraqi soldiers saw Americans coming and threw down their guns and thrust their hands up in the air to surrender. They did so because they knew they'd be treated humanely as POWs. America had that kind of reputation across the globe. Then.

[fushuugi]

14. actions of corruption

There is the possibility that Bush Co is intentionally loosing the 'war of hearts and minds' in a bid for perpetual conflict. Considering the group of people we are trying to win over, I don't think proving every negative thing said about us is going to help our cause. This administration's actions are corrupt, moral-less, murderous, torturous, barbarous: everything that certain Imams and other activists have denounced us for. Why do we so readily prove them right? Why fight a war in which we harm ourselves more than the enemy ever could?

[creeksneakers2]

22. The only way to halt the illegal activity

is for the public to find out about it. The public has the final word in our democracy. The public can't govern when it doesn't know what is going on.

Keeping knowledge from the public insures unlawful conduct by those in power, especially with this president. We can't sacrifice democracy and the rule of law just because of what someone in a foreign country might do.

[The Stranger]

27. But that is exactly what the Neocons want -- for U.S. soldiers to be tortured, beheaded, killed as

publicly and hideously as possible.

That is because it then becomes the rallyingpoint by which the Neocons will call for more warrantless wiretaps of civilians, more secret rendition and internet telecom company illegal surveillance, more legalized torture of foreign prisoners of war, more terrorism scares and fear mongering, more obliteration of timeless principles like due process, more to scare the sheep and to continue to vote themselves into office.

The Neocons need to have U.S. troops tortured and beheaded -- it keeps them in power.

[LaStrega]

12. psssst ~ do something!

Dana Perino, the White House spokes-hairdo, said Friday that President Bush "has no recollection of being made aware of the tapes or their destruction" before this week. That's just swell, that "no recollection" bit. Gosh, haven't I heard other loyal Bushies use it? Hmmm.

Oh and Jose Rodriguez, former head of the CIA's covert-operations division ... wouldn't that essentially make him Plame's boss?

Crooks and liars, the lot of 'em.

[Rottenmac]

15. The goal of these guys...

was not to accrue power... so much power... their goal was to beat the Dems down so low, that they dont believe in themselves. They don't think they have the power to do anything. So much self-doubt... Newt got his wish... even with a Rep. minority, they STILL control what the Dems can and will do.

And what they will do is absolutely NOTHING.

I am so sick and tired of spineless Dems. So SO sick and tired of their namby-pamby 'We dont have the numbers' bullshit.

When nothing happens again, don't bother waking me.

[jonnyra]

16. Memo to Senator Durbin:

This whole administration has been driving a stake through the heart of the rule of law and justice for 7 damn years now. You know this and so does every democrat in congress but strangely you do NOTHING about it. They are all liars and thieves and you just now pick this issue to use such language? We know they have been torturing people by their own admission. So now we have rumors of tapes showing that torture and that changes what?? What about constantly lying about terror threats to take this nation to war against nations that posed no threat? How about the murder of a million Iraqis based on lies? How about spying on Americans? Signing statements? Anthrax anyone??

If this helps take the bastards down fine but it seems to me this is no big surprise to anyone who's been paying attention. I cannot believe we are approaching 8 long years of this bullshit and they are still in office, committing crimes at will while this congress does NOTHING to stop it. Congress and this administration are a disgrace to this nation and are all complicit in the ruination of our country.

[Preening Fop]

18. If the right wing "Huff and Puff" dems actually do something, I'll Eat My Rug.....!

:patriot: :nuke: :patriot:

[Swagman]

19. destroying evidence !! send them directly to jail

[PuraVidaDreamin]

21. erasing 18 minutes of tape IMPEACHMENT... destroying CIA tapes

career advancements.

Up is down

[MetaTrope]

23. Don't you get it? CIA knew the White House wanted the tapes so Bush could out those agents

Rodriguez was just protecting his people.

[pleah]

24. I am so angry,

I can't even put it into words!!!!

[chelaque liberal]

25. I can't help but notice a number of low posters on this thread.

Everyone made intelligent comments that contributed to the conversation. That in itself gives me hope that there is a shift occurring in the collective consciousness of this country. Welcome to DU, everyone.

[rateyes]

26. I guess it's time for the Democratic leadership to

yell "stop it" a little louder than they did before! :sarcasm:

[whosinpower]

28. There are only two possibilities why this happened

1. the interrogation methods were torture.
2. the prisoner revealed something that was so bad, that the tapes had to be destroyed. (See Kpete's post) Tied House of Saud to 911. So strange that the four people identified by the prisoner suddenly died within weeks......funny how that happened.....no black ops here.......just coincidence.


Either way - this is very very bad for the Bush Administration. The excuse the CIA is using is totally bogus. Who knows - maybe this latest scandal will have legs. Hard to say.

[unhappycamper]

29. This is typical CIA behavior.

Read

[glowing]

30. Wow, A big shout out to all new posters... Use your anger and write

your congress people and senators... Thanks for being here.

[DeeDeeNY]

31. But laws don't apply to Miers

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19704513

[annabanana]

32. This story is MISDIRECTION - Quick! look over there!

Please don't get bamboozled.

The NIE was the story.

This is a shot at the intelligence community..

PLEASE read this!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2428031

[chelsea0011]

33. The Dems view this as a lame duck Presidency and will do nothing

nothing and more nothing.

[lovuian]

34. the Justice Dept will investigate it the same Justice Department

that lies to Congress and just has the AG dismissed for cleansing the Justice Dept

They can do anything because of Executive Privledge

[MasonJar]

36. Harriet Miers knew and did not tell W! Oh, sure. Bush doesn't know much

of anything. Well, now that is a given, but not having been told is not plausible. He probably ordered the destruction.