Questions linger after Hayden testimony

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - CIA Director Michael Hayden's explanation Tuesday of how videotapes of terror suspect interrogations were made, then destroyed, left many questions unanswered, said Intelligence Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller.

The West Virginia Democrat called his panel's 90-minute closed-door session with Hayden "a useful and not yet complete hearing" and vowed the committee would get to the bottom of the matter. Among lingering questions: who authorized destruction of the tapes, and why Congress wasn't told about it.

Hayden told reporters afterwards that he had "a chance to lay out the narrative, the history of why the tapes were destroyed" and the process that led to that decision. But since the taping was done under one of his predecessors, George Tenet, and were destroyed under another, Porter Goss, he wasn't able to completely answer all questions, he said.

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



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071211/ap_on_go_co/cia_videotapes_148

[gateley]

1. Independent Counsel. Like Biden is asking for. Stop keeping it secret. nt

[L. Coyote]

3. DEMAND A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR = Sign the ACLU petition by filling out your information below.

DEMAND A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR = Sign the petition https://secure.aclu.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=cia_petition

Mr. Attorney General:

The deliberate destruction of tapes showing "harsh interrogation techniques" by the C.I.A. suggests an utter disregard for the rule of law. These tapes were needed for Congress, courts, and even the 9/11 commission to do their work.

Because the Justice Department and top officials in the White House and the C.I.A. have been major players in the torture scandal, only an independent prosecutor can get at the truth.

I demand that you immediately appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute crimes that may have been committed by C.I.A. personnel or other top officials.

1.
Sign the petition by filling out your information below. ............

https://secure.aclu.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=cia_petition

C.I.A. TAPE COVERUP:
SIGN THE PETITION NOW

Last week, the head of the C.I.A., Michael Hayden, announced the agency destroyed tapes of what he called a “harsh interrogation” and what you and I would call torture. The reason? To protect agency operatives from legal consequences.

Thankfully members of Congress are already expressing their outrage over this action. On the Senate floor, Senator Kennedy warned his colleagues, “We haven’t seen anything like this since the 18 and a half minute gap on the tapes of Richard Nixon.”

This is a cover-up of epic proportions.

There is only one response: Attorney General Mukasey must respond to calls for an investigation and immediately appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate crimes that may have been committed by the C.I.A.

We’ll deliver our petition to Attorney General Mukasey and we’ll also copy members of Congress. Congress can keep the pressure on and pass a law appointing a special prosecutor if Mr. Mukasey won’t do his job.

==============
ACLU Calls for Independent Prosecutor to Investigate Destruction of CIA Interrogation Tapes (12/7/2007)
Says Possible Cover-Up of Potential Criminal Activity Needs to Be Examined
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/33044prs20071207.html


WASHINGTON - With the news yesterday that the Central Intelligence Agency destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the brutal interrogations of al-Qaeda suspects, the American Civil Liberties Union calls on Attorney General Mukasey to appoint an independent counsel to investigate, and if appropriate, prosecute any potential criminal activity. One of the tapes, made in 2002, purportedly shows the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah, who U.S. officials have acknowledged was subjected to waterboarding. The CIA destroyed the tapes in November 2005.

"The CIA’s destruction of these tapes shows complete disdain for the rule of law. This reeks of a deliberate cover up of potential criminal activity by the CIA, and the videos could have shown once and for all that the CIA does indeed torture," said Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU.

The CIA reportedly withheld knowledge of the tapes’ existence from federal prosecutors and the 9/11 Commission, both of which specifically asked for depictions of interrogations. The government also failed to produce the tapes as part of an ACLU Freedom of Information Act lawsuit in which a federal judge ordered the release of any documentation pertaining to treatment of detainees in U.S. custody. ACLU lawyers are considering appropriate next steps in that ongoing litigation. ........

"For what reason would the CIA destroy these videotapes other than to cover up criminal acts committed during the brutal interrogations depicted on these tapes?" asked Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. "The failure to turn over these tapes raises the kind of questions that only an independent prosecutor can investigate."

In June 2004, then-Attorney General John Ashcroft sent 21 referrals of possible violations of federal anti-torture laws by civilian interrogators to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. To date, the Justice Department has not brought any indictments based on these referrals.

................

[rockybelt]

2. The ONLY way

to get to the bottom is for an Independent Council and then an Independent Prosecutor.

[gateley]

6. WHY is Biden the only one asking for this? What's the matter with the rest of

the Dems -- candidates or not?????

[Acadia Blue]

7. Biden was the best choice for Pres. But the $$ went to others, and

we will be the poorer because of it.

[Supersedeas]

4. I don't know....ask the other guy -- well, who the hell is in charge...YOU ASK THE OTHER GUY AND

REPORT -- as if a constitutional duty to report to Congress was a matter of saying ask the other guy.

WHERE THE FUCK IS THE LEADERSHIP?

[maddezmom]

5. Do you think they'll get Tenet and Goss to meet with them?

Not to mention Rodrigues