GOP to CIA: Release interrogation briefing records

[sabra]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top House Republicans are calling for the CIA to release to Congress its records on the classified briefings it conducted for lawmakers on its harsh interrogation program in an effort to establish what Democrats knew about those techniques.

A spokesman for the Republicans said Monday that they would decide whether to declassify the records after they have been handed over.

...

Hoekstra said Monday he has not received a response yet. House Republican leader John Boehner joined Hoekstra's request.

"Congress and the American people deserve a full and complete set of facts about what information was yielded by CIA's interrogation program, and they deserve to know which of their representatives in Congress were briefed about these techniques and the extent of those briefings," said Boehner, R-Ohio.

...

Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., said Monday that Senate Intelligence Committee members raised concerns about the harsh interrogation methods when they were briefed. She did not specify the date.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jxqAXHJEdfo7XWHMpkRG_dhRoGawD97R1NLG0

[LynnTheDem]

1. And if high-ranking Dems had spilled the beans, the republics would have been screaming "TREASON!!1!

Let's release ALL info on what ALL government officials knew.

And then let's prosecute the govt officials who ORDERED the TORTURE and were the party in power.

[bluebellbaby]

3. Might I add an AMEN! To this!

[Atticus]

9. While we're at it---

---why not at least review ALL the material "Classified" by the Bush regime? I'd bet 90% of it was self-serving CYA maneuvers to conceal their greed, mendacity and lawlessness. I nominate John Edwards and Chuck Hagel to co-chair the review committee.

[karynnj]

12. Hagel might be a good choice especially if he were not on the committee

John Edwards is one of the worse choices - I see no reason he would be a good choice. He does not have a record of integrity and honor and his experience as a lawyer was defending people. In addition, he was on the Intelligence committee. I've heard former Senators Nunn and Danforth and Thomas Kean mentioned. Of the three, Danforth, who is also a minister and who back a few years ago made a plea for moderation, might be the most interesting choice. (I know people here have a major problem with Nunn because of his stand on gays in the military, but I don't think his intedrity was ever questioned.) I think Bill Bradley or Al Gore would be excellent choices.

All the mentioned people have gravitas and Edwards doesn't.

[Inuca]

13. Hagel WAS on the intelligence committee n/t

[karynnj]

15. I should have checked - Thanks

It would be better to avoid anyone on that committee at that time. So, I think Bradley and Danforth would be great. This is by using the criteria of someone not currently in Congress, to make it NOT a Congressional hearing, who has the background of Congress so they know what to ask and gravitas and integrity.

[SpiralHawk]

2. Hell, release the occult Republicon Energy Task Force records, too

Every American would love to learn how Dickie 'Five Military Deferments' Cheney, Commander AWOL Bush, and their Republicon Oil Cronies managed to keep SECRET their meeting that led to $4 a gallon gasoline during the disasterous reign of the Republicon Homelander Occult Energy Profits CABAL.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Task_Force

[BeFree]

4. Yeppers

Release all of the secret memos from Bushco.

But lets hope the pubbies don't throw Bushco under the bus. If they do they will have some honor and people might turn back to trusting them again.

[caseymoz]

5. Tell them to fill out an FOIA request and wait till it's processed like everyone else.

:nopity:

It is odd to see Republicans favoring the disclosure of secrets.

But seriously They're right, but for the wrong reasons.

They want to shift the blame, and I think they're bluffing, counting on Democratic Members to refuse, so they, the Repubs, can then use that as proof that it's all political. The proper thing to do is to call the bluff and disclose the records. I'm not certain our Democratic Representatives have the balls to do that.

Even so, we should know everything about this. Who was briefed, and what they said, but remembering that the administration would have done the same thing no matter what the committee members said. Bushistas simply didn't care about what anyone outside its circle thought.

[caseymoz]

6. Or sue, and have the AG file to dismiss the case to protect state secrets.

:cry:

We can't let a small thing like truth get in the way of our fight against terrorism.

[Spazito]

7. Why do I get the sense the Obama administration is....

leading the repubs right to the edge of the cliff that is of their own making and they just don't see it? The more they ask to be made public, the more that WILL be made public and it won't be limited to those cherry-picked by the repubs and Cheney.

It is absolutely fascinating to watch.

[Grinchie]

11. I agree. All or nothing, and when the damn breaks, the Republicans will be running for the hills

[downindixie]

8. No don't let the gop decid

whether to release them.If they are to be released let the public have them!

[underpants]

14. Let them. They can't help but screw up. They have no idea what is in there

but if history is any indicator they are going to have to retreat, attack the messenger, and find some way to divert attention away from this

[Grinchie]

10. I guess they don't realize it wouldn't compensate for the hundreds that have died.

Yes, release all secrets, including where billions of our dollars have gone in Black Budget projects, declassify the documents that were previously declassified before Bush came in, and by all means, make the energy task force membership known. Perhaps we could repeal the secret arbitration rules on energy manipulation practices that hide known evidence of energy manipulation in 2001.

Yes, let the sunshine in! It's a great disinfectant, but it's not so great when the Repub-No-Can's are they themselves diseased.

[No Elephants]

16. America to GOP: Sit down and shut up already. No one is interested in your CYA memos.

[mbperrin]

17. A spokesman for the Republicans said Monday that they would decide whether to declassify the records

after they have been handed over.

NOPE. Hand them over and declassify at the same time! Let's let it ALL out!

It matters not whose hands are dirty on this - investigate, indict, convict, imprison, and for some, execute!