The NYTimes has broken a new story detailing Bush administration lies and attempted cover-ups.
Videotapes of top Al Qaeda operatives were destroyed by the CIA, their existence was lied about to Federal courts, and they were withheld from the 9/11 Commission.
It's not a surprise that the Bush Administration would do this. But now that they are getting caught, the legal ramifications are damning.
First, the lead paragraph from the Times story
The Central Intelligence Agency in 2005 destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the interrogation of two Qaeda operatives in the agency’s custody, a step it took in the midst of Congressional and legal scrutiny about its secret detention program, according to current and former government officials.
The videotapes showed agency operatives in 2002 subjecting terrorism suspects — including Abu Zubaydah, the first detainee in C.I.A. custody — to severe interrogation techniques. The tapes were destroyed in part because officers were concerned that video showing harsh interrogation methods could expose agency officials to legal risks, several officials said.
Of course, in the article CIA Directory Hayden lies claims the interrogations were "legal", and that their release posed a "serious security risk". However, this is the Bush Administration, and we know that they are lying.
So, the Bush Administration that tells us that terrorists and Al Qaeda are so scary and dangerous destroyed videotapes of the interrogation of top terrorism subjects, including Bin Laden aide Abu Zubaydah? Wouldn't we want to keep those tapes of terrorists, for future analysis? Perhaps they'd be useful, the tapes we have of the top captured terrorist suspects being interrogated?
But no. If the story is true, and if there are no copies, these tapes were recklessly destroyed.
With total disregard for our actual national security, the only reason those tapes were destroyed is obvious. The suspects in our custody were tortured, and the Bush Administration is trying to cover it up, because of "legal risks". Y'know, like torture being illegal.