This may get very interesting...
THE CIA chief who ordered the destruction of secret videotapes recording the harsh interrogation of two top Al-Qaeda suspects has indicated he may seek immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying before the House intelligence committee.
Jose Rodriguez, former head of the CIA’s clandestine service, is determined not to become the fall guy in the controversy over the CIA’s use of torture, according to intelligence sources.
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All the leaks so far give cover to various Administration lawyers (except David Addington, interestingly) as having advised against the destruction of these recordings.
Larry Johnson, a former CIA officer, believes the scandal could reach deep into the White House. "The CIA and Jose Rodriguez look bad, but he’s probably the least culpable person in the process. He didn’t wake up one day and decide, ‘I’m going to destroy these tapes.’ He checked with a lot of people and eventually he is going to get his say."
Johnson says Rodriguez got his fingers burnt during the Iran-contra scandal while working for the CIA in Latin America in the 1980s. Even then he sought authorisation from senior officials. But when summoned to the FBI for questioning, he was told Iran-contra was "political – get your own lawyer".
He learnt his lesson and recently appointed Robert Bennett, one of Washington’s most skilled lawyers, to handle the case of the destroyed interrogation tapes. "He has been starting to get his story out and was smart to get Bennett," said Johnson.
I still say that they weren't covering up the fact that we tortured Abu Zubaydah, they were covering up what he said.