Marci Wheeler (EmptyWheel) Is Pouring Through The DOJ OPR Report... Interesting Stuff So Far...

[WillyT]

OPR Report Working Thread
By: emptywheel
Friday February 19, 2010 2:34 pm

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A great way to spend a Friday night–reading this with all my friends!

* Memorandum for the Attorney General
* OPR Final Report
* OPR 1st Draft Report
* OPR 2nd Draft Report
* Yoo Response to OPR 2nd Draft
* Yoo Response to OPR Final Draft
* Bybee Response to OPR 2nd Draft
* Bybee Response to OPR Final Draft

I’m working on the First Draft.

PDF 8: when OPR first asked for emails, they were told that Yoo’s and Philbin’s had been deleted. They later got those emails.

PDF 9: Rizzo refused to meet with OPR until after his confirmation hearing in 2007.

PDF 10: The people who refused to be interviewed:

* At least 3 CTC lawyers
* Ashcroft
* Addington
* Flanigan

PDF10: There WAS no classified annex to Bush’s July 2007 EO on torture–just Bradbury’s memo accompanying it. But that was supposed to be the WH writing down its policy guidance for torture!

PDF11: They didn’t tell OPR about the Combined and CAT memos until 2007. OPR first got them AUgust 29, 2007.

PDF11: “we cannot say with certainty that the documents provided to us by the CIA included all the relevant documents.”

PDF12: Is the redaction in the middle of the page where they explain why they don’t think Bradbury screwed up? (Actually, they seem to punt with a paragraph on PDF13 arguing for more review.)

PDF 14: Did we know that the OLC memo on warrantless wiretap referred to in the footnote was withdrawn/ Or is that the Fourth Amendment one?

PDF 15 and 16 must include descriptions of CIA’s background in interrogation–things like MKULTRA. It also must include at least one paragraph showing CIA should have know the legal restrictions on torture (perhaps earlier guidelines prohibiting it after they “closed down” the SOA program.

PDF17: Note: there’s no mention of Binyam Mohamed’s torture, which we know started at the same time or before Abu Zubaydah’s.

PDF18: Note the footnote–this report takes the DOJ IG report as proof that they were torturing before they had the memo.

PDF 20: Note the reference to diapers (something Spencer has written a lot on). Then there are redactions that don’t explain where the diapers went.

PDF21: THere’s a 12th technique that they are hiding. Is it the use of drugs?

PDF22: Bellinger told Yoo not to tell State about the torture. I guess he was not the hero on torture he has made himself out to be. Also note–there were MORE people briefed on torture at the beginning than were briefed on Cheney’s illegal wiretap program.

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Link: http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/02/19/opr-report-working-thread/

Also... the Anthrax Report: http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/02/19/doj-anthrax-report-working-thread/

:kick: