Investigating destroyed CIA tapes?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
President Bush doesn't want Congress and the courts investigating those destroyed CIA videotapes of detainee interrogations. What a surprise.
Nonetheless, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee is pledging to move forward with his panel's probe. Congressman Peter Hoekstra says it's important to hold the CIA accountable, adding, "You've got a community that's incompetent. They are arrogant. And they are political."
On Friday, the CIA asked the Intelligence Committee to halt its investigation, saying that inquiry would interfere with an ongoing probe by the Justice Department in collaboration with the CIA.
This after Attorney General Michael Mukasey rejected demands from Congress for information about the Justice Department's inquiry. He said turning over the information might be seen as bowing to "political influence."
Democratic Congresswoman Jane Harman agrees with Hoekstra that congressional inquiries should continue. She says parallel investigations have happened many times, adding, "It smells like the cover-up of the cover-up."
And, it's not just about Congress. The Justice Department is also telling a federal judge not to start his own inquiry. U.S District Judge Henry Kennedy had ordered the administration back in June 2005 to preserve evidence regarding detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. But the administration insists the CIA tapes weren't covered by that order because the detainees weren't being held at Gitmo. They were being held at a secret CIA prison overseas.
Here’s my question to you: Why would the Bush administration ask the courts and Congress to stay out of investigating those destroyed CIA tapes?
Interested to know which ones made it on air:
Michael from Wisconsin writes:
Of course Bush doesn't want anyone other than his Justice Department looking into the CIA tapes. He said he didn't recall being briefed about these tapes. He did not say he wasn't briefed. If someone else looks into these tapes, he might have to remember that he was involved.
Diane from Intervale, New Hampshire writes:
The White House follows in the proud tradition of the Rosemary Woods School of Jurisprudence: if the evidence is incriminating, simply destroy it and then stonewall any investigation until January 2009.
Donna writes:
We have covert operations/intelligence going on. That means the stuff is secret. Get over it.
Darren from Leavenworth, Kansas writes:
Bush doesn't want us to know the extent of torture that this administration was involved in. He claims that the U.S. doesn't use torture, but if that were true, the administration would be open to investigations and come clean about what they were doing.
Doug from Melbourne, Floridawrites:
Remember Watergate? It's called a "cover up", America, pure and simple. Bush has something to hide. It's not rocket science, it's corruption! Two bits he'll get away with it, too.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
The president wants them not to investigate because he wants to continue his unchecked activities. If you were cheating on your taxes, would you want the IRS to conduct an audit?
They want it to stay out of congress because they can impeach. That means throwing a patsy (Scooter Libby / Karl Rowe) when they get close to being caught may not work. You are expecting anything else from this arrogant administration?
Because if someone outside of the executive branch, or at least under their direct influence, were to "put their hand in the cookie jar" they would find out just how truly rotten things are under the dark cloak of Darth Cheney and all his puppets, G.W. included.
Bush has broken the LAW and does not want us ALL to know what ALL he has done.
Yet he says Economy is good, I don't know where he lives, in outer space I think. His oil buddies are doing GREAT and middle class is paying for them.
I think its called CYA. Just another cover up by this Administration. I wonder how much more we don't know about, I will bet it is plenty. I hope someday we will find it all out. Does war crimes ring a bell?
Like your new format, keep up the good work.
Why would Bush not want CIA tapes investigated? Why would he not want staff members to testify? Why does this administration not admit to waterboarding? Why not release the minutes of meetings with oil companies? What happened to the missing e-mails? Why hasn't George Bush been impeached for taking this country into an unfounded war? Why aren't the American people unifying and agreeing to vote every incumbent out of office??? The answer is.... I don't know!
Jack
These CIA tapes will become George Bush's watergate. Harry Truman said " the buck stops here " George Bush has to except responsibility for this as it happened on his watch. As usual the administration is trying to pass the buck on this one.
george bush is a moron, and he knows they'll have more to pile on if they investagate, you know, more on the moron.
scott
It's easy, Jack. Bush can only hang onto so many strings at once. The more fingers in the pie, the more likely something will slip from the tyrant's grasp and become more public fodder.
When there are tapes destroyed it suggest there is something to hide and laws might have been broken. When the White House ask the courts and Congress to stay out of the investigation, it suggest they are involved in it up to their eyeballs and are all afraid that an investigation will expose their involvement. Bill, Quarryville, Pennsylvania
The man has a whole lot of mess he don't want found out and he is doing his damness to keep what they have done hidden from the people who put them in office.
My goodness, Jack. Why indeed. If you were covering your tracks to keep the American public from knowing you were knee deep in the slimey swamp of your administration of double talk and lies, would you want any of it out in the open? I wouldn`t think so. The destroyed tapes are just one more thing they need to hide..............IMPEACH THEN ALL Bah humbug
Jack,
The Bush/Cheney Administration is a criminal enterprise that has taken away
our democratic way of life and replaced it with a virtual dictatorship. Once again,
they are covering their bloody tracks... They should be impeached and hung for treason, for outing a covert CIA Agent, and other "war crimes"... Hang 'em high!
Justice for all,
Fagan
*(Vietnam Veteran)
Jack, our shady president is hiding things in the shadows again. He tries so hard to be the smart guy, but ends up getting caught everytime. Its too bad he is destroying us, and many other countries, becuse he is really fun to watch, you have to wonder how such a moron got elected (Only In America)!! You just have to wonder about what our fearless leader is trying to hide this time.
Jack
Last time i remembered weren't we living in a democratic country or did all of sudden we've turned into a Monarchy? Government should be open and the President is liable for all his actions and the people should know after all we're the ones who put him in office.
Don't corporations care about there shareholders? This shows how bad a CEO George Bush is
I wonder what difference it would make even if the evidence proved without a shadow of a doubt that George Bush directly ordered the CIA to destroy those tapes. After all, nothing has been done so far even though Bush has violated the Constitution in several ways and Nancy Pelosi has taken impeachment off the table. Bush has a carte blanch to do as he pleases and Congress lacks the spine to stand up against his dictatorial regime.
Gee, could it be because torture is not effective and usually only gets forced and often untrue confessions???
Uh... isn't the answer obvious enough?
He knows what’s buried at Langley. Let’s review, the Bush Neo camp does some serious arm twisting to get the Agency to build “Iraq go to war” package. No doubt arm twisting ruffled some dedicated loyal career feathers not to mention the issue of outing an agent. The war plans are a flop and in the Bush tradition he trashes the Agency. In the spirit of Texas Hold-Um, Bush and the Neos look for the double down play with Iran but this time around the Agency calls the bluff and says no. Needless to say, when it comes to accountability under our constitution, someone is labeling a new deck of cards. Obstructing or stalling an investigation just delays the inevitable of Bush moving from the Joker to the Ace of Spades
Bush is doing nothing wrong, look elsewhere.
edited by: CIA
Bush and company don't want to be blamed for any horrendous acts that have occurred on their watch, acts that they in some cases actually encouraged. An investigation would show exactly how low and how far we've sunk as a nation. There was a time when we were the people that stood for liberty and freedom from tyranny. . . Not anymore of course, tapes of people being tortured are an example of exactly the opposite.
Why would the Bush admin ask the courts and Congress not to investigate the destruction of tapes that just might be incriminating? That's easy, they've appointed enough tame judges that no one in the Justice Dept will argue. And Congress, which should be executing oversight, is unwilling to do anything that might displease our version of Caligula or that would unearth evidence of collusion and corruption among the Republicans who created and still support this criminal administration.
Bush, like Putin, is busily engaged in destroying all but his version of history.
Because they don't want to get caught in another lie.
It's the legacy you know.
This typically happens when a man believes he is anointed by God to do God's work. He will do anything, legal or illegal, and no one can question his right to do so. George W Bush is a textbook example of that.
are we really surprised?this administration has lied about everything that has come out of their filthy mouths.there is obviously something that the government is hiding from the American people
This subject bothers me, it's completely obvious that Bush & the Republican Party has broken our government into something that resembles a totalitarian state. Everybody knows that the investigation will go no where.
The question is why the hell are the American people not bothered by this?
Then someone should point out that Bush/Cheney are mentally disturbed & need to be on Thorazine drips & locked-up in a institution, don't you think?
Bush, jr. and Cheney are the shadiest politician's in the history of my lifetime. How could our country elect these two no only once but twice (well actually they only voted them in once. The stole the first one. Which was their FIRST shady deal). Bush, jr. stands for all that is wrong, Big Business running the government, raping the environment, taking away Constitutional Rights under the guise of fighting terrorism.
On every issue, whatever the point that Bush takes, you KNOW that the correct side is the opposite side!
The Dixie Chicks said it first, but I feel the need to repeat it: "I am ashamed of my country". I consider myself a huge patriot. Yet, I am ashamed of what this country has become under the shady administration of Bush/Cheney!
Mr. Cafferty, Bush and company are about as useful as a pair of boob's on a goldfish.
Bobby
Florida
This is an easy one Jack. The President wants a fair, honest, and impartial investigation, performed by someone who is directly accountable to him. How better to gather all the information and seal it in a secure place for future generations, because to make it public would endanger our national security. It would be an insult and a security risk, to have one of our inferior branches of government (Judicial or congresional) investigate the all-powerful Executive Branch. If the Bush Administration has taught us anything; it is that we only need one branch of government.
The Courts and the Congress are not part of the Executive Branch of government. As such, they are not as easily corrupted by the Bush White House.
Not being subjectively involved, those separate and equal branches of government might do their Constitutional duty. They might hold Bush and his Executive branch accountable for crimes they may have committed.
Why would they want the government investigating the tapes? Hahahah Its easy, yet another scandal that makes the Bush administration look bad. Bush has done everything in his power to keep the power to himself and not letting the other branches of government from working. They do work well when not investigating bush however. But when it comes to finding out the dirt on Bush, well the other branches always puss out. Yet another example of how bush has used his powers to make him above the law. Its sad that were turning into a dictatorship, and nothing is happening to stop it.
-jason
wenatchee washington
The monitor didn't post a comment of mine, I guess she thought it was toooooo mean, but, I still say that Bush/Cheney don't want to stand trial for "Crimes Against Humanity" at the Hague. You see the CIA committed these acts against the detainees at the behest of the Bush Administration. These acts are "Crimes Against Humanity"!!!! And if we are honest with ourselves, we know that the world demanded the Nazi's stand trial during WWII & that what Bush/Cheney allowed to be done in this country's name is just as evil as what the Nazi's did. The Bush/Cheney Administration needs to be impeached & then led in chains to the Hague to stand trial.... (Yes I know monitor, you won't be posting this either)....
Because they only want the FOX watching the henhouse!!
Now here's one for the "Rocket Science Kids". The bushies have done nothing but either classify (another word for cover up) what they want to hide, or let out names of C.I.A, personnel (for vengence purposes and escape jail because the Democrats are to chicken to do anything about it). This is the most corrupt and dishonest administration since Ronald Reagon. Want to find out just how stupid and dishonest Reagon was? Read the book by Sam Donaldson "Hold on – Mr. President".
Bush is so crooked they will have to skrew him into the ground when he dies. Him and his chubby little buddy (s).
You have got to be kidding! Too obvious for words for even this blog. Every day it is a new scandal & we forget them due to the constant barrage amount from the White house. Can we please impeach this guy ig we cant convict his of high crimes and multiple misdemeanors?
Well, let me see?
Right now as I write the Senate is screwing the America people,, The Bushie's have done everything in their power to rob America's of our civil liberty's while the corporate media cheer-lead for them.
Right now retroactive amnesty for telecommunication companies is being debated (sic) hope it makes it on the news??? It's a kind of big story, but, no it won't make it on the news. It snowing somewhere in this country, ect, ect, mindless stuff to keep us stupid, while our government hijack our liberty's.
Can I ask I stupid question?? Will I well anyway. Have you said one word about the "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism act of 2007, which will be coming up in the Senate,, the "Thought Police Bill" I bet America's would comment on this one, I would like to hear that they think about this little jewel.
Everything President Bush has done is for the safety welfare of the United States. Disagree with some of his methods...fine, but don't label him as a criminal. Considering the difficult circumstances of his tenure he has lawful prosecuted enemy terrorists and combatants. Perhaps there were instances when he walked the line but he has done so only to maintain the country's security. The case at hand falls under the jurisdiction of the Justice Department. For another body to investigate the case would be unconstitutional.
Jack, it's really embarrassing when my friends in England or Germany poke fun of our lovely president with names like King George. It's even worse when they refer to Cheney as Hermann Goering in drag! And yet, we Americans sit back and say nothing about the CIA tapes and other things. We just hope it will all go away, but who knows what these aristocrats might do, even after an election! Jack, you and Lou Dobbs are about the only two voices that speak out, and let's face it. Bothg of you are viewed by many as cynical wiseacres!
Jack,
This is just another attempt by the Bush Administration to hide evidence that doesn't agree with their narrative about the War on Terror. He's tried to systematically remove any oversight the courts or Congress might try to exercise. For the most part, Congress has just rolled over and given the president what he wants.
He probable thinks congress has more important things to do like passing illegal immigration legislation or veterans benefits legislation or maybe something dumb like a clean healthcare bill for children, you know those silly little things that got them elected in the first place. Isn't that what they get paid for? Witch hunting should be done as a hobby only and on their time not ours.
You know Jack Bush doesn`t have to ask them to stay away of the investigation
at the hill we know that they can`t accomplish anything start with bring back the troops home!! i am a amateur in politics but i can`t bring the vote on the floor when i know that i don`t have the vote needed
My question to you Jack, is it possible to impeach the speaker of the house or the
senate majority leader?
Thank you Jack keep the good work!!
Is the Bush Administration 'asking' Congress?
I don't think so, Congress has already proven their irrelevance as a co-equal part of the Governement. And every Republican can't get enough face time on CSPAN and the Fox Noise Channel to support that rampant destruction of the Constituiton and liberties of the American people.
Both Houses of Congress shoud vote for permanent adjournemtn and go home and let King George rule by executive order, signing statments, and unitary executive authority and they have for the past seven years.
No wonder Iraqi and Afghansitan are so screwed up - look who they're modeled and mentored after!!!
Checks & balances ? Individual branches of federal government ? I thought the President had the power to do whatever he wanted... Correct me if I'm wrong though, but be prepared to cite specific legal documents, you know, like the Constitution !
I can spell "Technicality". Can you say "War Crimes"?
Jack..because?? They're "dishonest" ??
WE HAVE COVERT OPERATIONS/INTELLIGENCE GOING ON. THAT MEANS THE STUFF IS SECRET. GET OVER IT.
Jack,The CIA was only giving surfboard lessons and watching Beach Blanket Bingo!
The answer is simple, he's just trying to prevent his legacy from becoming more curuptive, useless, and degrading than it already is.
Why would the Bush admin tell (not ask) Congress to stay out of the investigation? Because they have gotten away with pure arrogance and bullying for so long, and the democratic and republican congress has rolled over and let him have his way for so long that King George now thinks he is invincible. Apparently he is. No one will dare cross the King. Why are they so scared of him? The schoolyard bully always meets his match sooner or later, but this one hasn't yet.
Are you seriously asking this question? He is complicit in the destruction of the tapes! He does not want us to know! He needs to take away more liberty from the American People! How anyone trust anything coming from this administration is beyond me! This is further proof, as far as I am concerned, of the extent of the criminal enterprise known as the Bush Administration!
Has anyone considered that a member of the administration might have been present during the taped "interrogation" sessions?
Duuhhhhhhhh? How about a harder question? This one was too easy....you are putting me to sleep here....
The Bush Administration doesn't want anyone to look into the destroyed CIA tapes? Gees, that's "breaking news" just like steroids in baeball.
This is a rogue government that has been breaking the law for years. They are out of control. Impeachment and removal from office seem to be out of the question at this point. I hope someone has the cajones to indict and convict after they are out of office
It's "THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION" that says it all.
What else would you exzpect from and administration whose leader says the the "Constitution is just a piece of paper"!
Well Jack you can almost say that this administration has gotten too secretive. It’s like we are living in a society like Orwell’s 1984 book, where the people can’t question the government. I smell scandal in the White House!
Jack, is this a rhetorical question? Has this bunch of crooks ever allowed any information out? Oh, yeah, they let out the identity of a CIA agent. That proves they are for "open government"...
Because he knows he can get away with doing so.
This banana republic of ours is just that. A banana republic.
We have a very dark room and in this room we can not shine a light because there is nothing left to reflect light back to see truth.
Most of those employed as congressmen and women are lawyers. What are lawyers good at? Nothing. So to justify their meager existence they go on elaborate fishing expedition with hooks that contain no bait hoping to snag something to show to their friends. If nothing is snagged they are no worse off. We have a congress that can not pass gas much less legislation. What makes you think they can do something with this issue.
Total waste of time and money, our money mind you. That is why.
Jack:
This is a no-brainer. They have much to hide, like they always have for the past 7 years in power. The thing they have in their favor is that the Democratic majority won't hold them accountable and they'll roll over again and play dead. That's why I am now a former democrat. This country has been headed toward dictatorship since the "Bush Family Robinson" washed up on the shores of this country and the voting populous has let it happen. God help all of us!
Investigation into the matter would probably lead to the discovery of solid evidence that could be used against Bush/Cheney in a war crimes case or something similar. If Congress begins to investigate, they will begin their descent down a slippery slope which will hurt most politicians in office. Scandal! Scandal! Scandal!
Because Bush and his cronies support water boarding which is torture and if the truth came out they would certainly be tried as war criminals.
Well, DUH! The CIA, as most of the Bush Administration, feels they are above the law. They have no problem stripping us of Civil liberties; the Patriot Act is just one example. They love to interfere in our personal lives, but God forbid we try to hold them accountable for anything. This has been such a corrupt adminstration and the list goes on: Enron, Halliburton, putting us in Iraq for no good reason. This is just the latest in their brazen king of the mountain mentality.
I think when they find that little slip of paper that entails just who ordered the destruction of those tapes, a certain evil little Texan will feel a little dumber than he already does.
If the Republicans in Congress let the president slide on this, we can forget about checks and balances and accountability. I don't know what it is going to take for the Republicans to care enough about the Constitution and our democracy to make them want to protect it instead of GW Bush and his cabal. They have placed GW Bush ahead of the American people and the rule of law.
Wouldn't it be nice if anyone can go in any bank and get all the money they want
just for the asking and nothing is done to them? The Bushes have gotten
all the money from our banks with a blank check so why wouldn't they go back
for more. Our do nothing congress has allowed this to go on and yes the american people have also. Can you spell impeachment????
I am just waiting for the Bushes to say the constitution
is illegal and they are going to stay in office forever, sorta like a dictator would.
This president is going down in history as the worst and has done the most
damage in foreign policy and broken so many laws it is a joke.
Because it'll show yet another law that has been broken by this administration. So, since they get to break any law of their choice, I've decided I'm not going to follow the tax law anymore. That's fair, right?
This is just another incidence in a long line of missing tapes, notes we can't find... redactions... things that have no business being classified... being classified. These guys in the White House have no compunction about doing shady things to further hide their illegal deeds... and they are many. They're all "ethics" impaired and "honesty challenged." Hey! What can you expect from a President who admittedly ran for President as a stepping stone to the job as Commissioner of Baseball. God help the American people and God help baseball!
Jack,
Why would we want to know what is on those tapes? I'm sure that they have plenty of other ones that weren't destroyed, but ya know what? Who is looking at these tapes. Who decided that these specific tapes are so important? Is this country so naive that they really think that things don't go on that some people don't like? Wake up America, while it is important to hold ourselves to a high standard, the rest of the world plays the game differently. Do you see any other country where the people ask to see classified material and it is actually shown? I spent 13 months as a Marine in Viet Nam. Lots of bad things were done on both sides, but it is only our side that called to task. The greatest advesary we have in the world is we ourselves. We and only we will be the downfall of this once great nation. We have to stop worrying about each and every percieved injustice and start worrying about the realities of life. I probably rambled on and I apologize for that.
Simply put... elections are under a year away. The republicans know better than to stir up already 'dirty waters'.
Unfortunately, this is just business as usual for the Bush administration. I'm not even shocked when they pull this stuff on us any more. Somehow the American people and the rest of the government have given Bush the idea that he is above the law and it's our responsibility to remind him that he is still an American and must abide by the same rules as the rest of us.
Jack, I read your book, "It's Getting Ugly Out There". I also read "Broken Government" by John Dean and "Fair Game", by Valere Plame Wilson,
I am scared to death. How could so many people vote for a party that continues to destroy the group that a majority of voters belong to. Why would someone elect a party that cuts taxes for the rich, denys healthcare for children, and funnels tax money to corporations?
Bush has a hand in everything that should not happen. He'll do anything and everything to cut ties from people and the things he knows he's not supposed to do!!!
This is not a one-answer question.
Perhaps Bush does not want it to be revealed just what his administration has REALLY been up to. Maybe he thinks that if the American People ever realize that some of those imprisoned and tortured had absolutely nothing to do with 9-11 or any terrorist activities, they will wake up and realize that this could happen to ANYONE. Sounds a lot like the 'disappeared' in all those banana republics!
Second, maybe he is just acting on instructions from Cheney, who is probably really running the show, Bush does not have the brains.
Third, maybe if the records were revealed the American People would get a hint at how inadequate our intelligence really is. We need to hire some mercenaries to do our intelligence. (isn't that what we are doing in this idiot war) Maybe the Israelis would take the job. They always seem to know everything.
Maybe, if we are lucky, somewhere down the line we will get past this bashing each other and get together and go about the business of trying to salvage this country which is rushing down the tubes. I didn't like some of the things Clinton did and I do not like some of the things this administration has done but digging up the past and bashing each other gets us nowhere. Wake up people....
George Bush has not defended the constitutionof the US almost non stop since he was elected. He swore an oath to do this. Impeachment proceedings were held against Bill Clinton for swearing an oath to tell the truth and not doing so. As I recall no one died from Clintons action. But as a result of Bush's lies there are over 3000 Americans dead and 10"s of thousands maimed. There are also 10's of thousands of other countries citizens dead and maimed. Cia agents have been outed (treason) and our civil liberties have been compromised. Torture has been commited and we have refused to administer our own legal framework, that has made us so great in the past, to our fellow world neighbors. Is there a patriot in any party that has the courage to stand up and call it for what it is and actually defend the constitution and our American way of life.
All these posts with everyone saying nasty things about Bush. You folks should be ashamed of yourselves. How many airplanes have been flown into buildings since 9-11? How many trains have been blown up? Let me help you NONE. That tells me Bush has done some things right. Keep in mind people if you do not like it in this country there are many more out there that will be glad to have you. Iran is one of them. Get a passport and go.
One last thought on the Bush hater board.
How do you think we got into this war in Iraq? Do you think that Bush said lets go and we went? That answer is NO. In this country we can not go to war against any other country without the aproval of the congress. You want to blame someone then you better start blaming them too. Without their voting to go to war we could have never gotten there in the first place.
First of all from a Canadian perspective I believe the Bush- Cheney gang are by far the most corrupt that I have ever seen. Bush has to stop acting like he is king of the world. I have very little use for Harper {Bush's boy} just to be fair. I have no doubt that there was much evidence of torture on those tapes. Personally I think Dick the snake Cheney had a hand or directly ordered those tapes destroyed. I also believe that he is the real president, Bush couldn't find his way home if he was a block away. It's so sad to see the demise of a great nation but like all empires none last forever. In my opinion America has lost its soul and is on a very slippery slide morally. George Bush is no Christian. He used the foolish religious right only to get elected, it worked in Texas. Now I know why I never hear Bush say God bless America anymore. Does anyone really think He would?
The Bush and the Clinton gangs are America's premier crime families. Both of these political "mafias" lust for unaccountable absolute power and both have criminally abused their power.
I'm not the least bit shocked that the Bush Adm. destroyed the torture tapes of his $2 trillion war. This administration has arrogantly lied about everything but Bushbot regime behaves no differently than the Clintonistas. It was Bill Clinton who engineered the great sellout of high paying American manufacturing jobs with NAFTA.
Except for Ron Paul, I despise everybody running for president. Both parties are criminal sellouts which is why I'm an independent voter. If anything, I hope I live long enough to witness the Bush and Clinton gangs being permanently and forever banished from power and politics.
Remember the days of Nixon? Their back....only worse. I certainly hope an investigation takes place all the way to the top at the White House! Then I hope all will be prosecuted!!!!!!
At least all Clinton did was have sex outside of marriage in the white house. Bush has committed many felonies and been a traitor to his country. Now tell me who should have been impeached? At least Clinton did his job well and did not commit treason!
McCain has no vision just like the rest of the republican cannidates. Their vision is the same blurred vision of reality Bush has.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
-Albert Einstein-
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction."
-Albert Einstein-
VOTE for RON PAUL PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =)
Because the Bush Administration has obviously broken international laws to torture under the Geneva Conventions and is trying to hide itself from further prosecution. Similar to how a subsection of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 pardons the Bush Administration of war crimes retroactively to September 11th, 2001. Why else would they write that into the law unless if they already knew they were committing war crimes? Perhaps they recognize that Section 9 of the Constitution states that "No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed." So, it seems like the Bush Administration is covering their bases in case it gets constitutionally challenged by the next administration, so there is no evidence of torture under the Geneva Conventions. It is also very similar to how 8 terabites of data was destroyed in regards to 9/11. From information on the activities of the FAA and NORAD has not been disclosed to the public for reasons of national security to the tapes of whatever hit the pentagon are being held from the public and have probably been destroyed. This Administration is trying to make themselves unconvictable in court of law & is actively trying to cover up their criminal negligence so that there can never be a thorough investigation. Congress needs to stop being the wusses they are & get some new investigations before everything is destroyed in this manner.
Waldo
Boston, MA
Because the Bush administration does not believe in the Constitution or the notion of checks-and-balances. Just look at the numeorus unConstitutional Presidential Directives passed by Bush, specifically NSPD-51.
The CIA (Communist Invasion of America) is a rogue body of criminals. The Justice Department has no Constitutional authority to deny anything to Congress. The Execuctive Branch is now the self-annointed central command for the monopolistic corporatistic finacial Kings of the world. So now, we the people have no voice, but that which supports the theme of hail to the Chief (Thief). Bush, undeniably the worst leader ever of this free nation, is unaccountable for any violation of citizen's rights. He and his gang of devils need a good impeachment followed by a just conviction for crimes against the USA, the world, and any 3rd grade text book. What kind of country would have this clown as their president?
Yes, a great book, Jack. Another read before we vote should be "Where Have All The Leaders Gone?", by Lee Iaccoca. He lists the 9 "C"s of leadership and our Oval Office Idiot has none to his credit. We really need to question these candidates before we vote for any them (if you can get an answer out of them). It's too late for this administration with impeachment off the table (who told Nancy to do that?) and War Crimes trials unlikely. Lets not make the same mistake twice.
I don't think that anyone is confused about the fact that the President has something to hide that the public will not like. I think a better question would be...."Has there ever been another President that would have been able to maintain this level of secrecy without a public outrage?" (I don't consider the current public response as too concerned)
I believe that the public has come to expect this type of behavior from the current administration. I do not feel a bit of shock from hearing these types of headlines anymore. The majority of people (myself included) have become callous through repetition to all of these secrets.
I was never really scared of the small groups of terrorist that want to hurt us. There will always be a few lunatics, including some homegrown, to make life occasionally miserable. But I am starting to frighten myself when I realize that the government will continue to increase the use of force, torture, and spying till the "terrorist violence" ceases....And this behavior may be inflaming the source of the problem.
Thanking you for your fair coverage of Ron Paul. It is very refreshing and appreciated!
-DK
Patricia is right on the money. If evidence exists like those tapes, it is definate proof of crimes against humanity and those morons condoning this could be held liable. As they should be.
Further, the CIA is an entity unto itself and were it not for 911, that body would not be in existence today. They needed a disaster like 911 to continue getting funding for an organization that was being shut down. After all I believe they are one of the largest if not the largest wasters of tax payers money.
Jack;
And to all America & the world although the Bush & Chaney administration might
be getting by with all their evil trick and lies, hate and cheating now.
I just want to tell everybody and WARN Bush & Chaney machine & Company
they want and will not get by JESUS. They will pay for their sins.
Olive Branch MS
The Bush administration asked the courts and Congress to stay out of investigating those destroyed CIA tapes because Cheney told him to, duh!
OOPS! Posted on the wrong question! Anyway, I worry all the time, come January, 2008, will this man actually leave office, or will a 'terrorist attack' allow him to remain King?
Let's give some of the Republicans credit for refusing the Bush edict. Lately they have shown more independnce than Democrats. I would become an independent but there is no indpendent party.
Non transparency in government seems to be the new norm. The constitution does not seem to be our play book any more, and our country is headed in a dangerous direction. Will the government ever get back to following the will of people, or has the constitution already been thrown out for good.
Wealthy Elitists: Money = Power; Power leads to corruption. And, oh, the power they have when they own the energy (oil), the media, the manufacturing (they ship the jobs overseas), security (miltary, CIA,FBI), pharmaceuticals (with our pop-a-pill culture).
Why would anyone want to investigate themselves? Of course when you know there might be something that could incriminate you and many in your mob-like outfit you're gonna want to encourage people that its not worth looking into. Otherwise he's asking to put an end to the cake walk of taking advantage of the people of this country who seem to prefer to remain ignorant and happy living their own day to day lives.
We can't continue to hide behind propaganda that insists that we just trust the elected officials to do the right thing and trust that they have our best interests at heart. If we've learned anything from history, it's that the fight for our freedom and liberty is never-ending. I leave you with a few profound quotes from several inspiring men...
"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility – I welcome it. " – JFK
"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." – JFK
"Allow the president to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such a purpose – and you allow him to make war at pleasure. " – Abraham Lincoln
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. " – Abraham Lincoln
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. " – Thomas Jefferson
"Banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies. " – Thomas Jefferson
"Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto. " Thomas Jefferson
"Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories. " – Thomas Jefferson
Democracy by rule of law and open accountability has evolved into 'plausible democracy". It just needs to sort of look like democracy without the bothersome element of constitutional adherance to law.
Of course the White House would put a nix on an investigation, imagine eighteen minutes in HD color.
Ron Paul has to get the nomination first and right now he is in absolute last place. I have never seen a prize awarded for last place. Filling a bag with helium and printing Ron Paul on it does not make him a viable candidate for president. It simply means he has a fan club. So did Mickey Mouse and he was never elected as president either.
Jack,
Why all the hoopla about the CIA destroying the tapes to supposedly hide the identity of the interrogators? I did not see this openess about CIA operatives from you and CNN when the Valerie Plame incident was painstakingly paraded before the American public. Is this a double standard? Oh wait, this is the "damned if you do....damned if you don't" syndrome that only aplies if you are in the Bush Administration. OK I've got it. Can CNN spell hypocrites?
Jim Young
Who really cares what they do to get information out of these terrorists. We all know that any of our people that they capture are given the Ritz treatment. Come on, give me a break. If what they do saves just 1 life then it is ok by me. Since when can a terrorist demand and investigation anyway. What we really need to do is investigate all these liberal judges to make sure they are not getting paid by the terrorist, because there sure seems to be a lot of judges changing a lot of things.
Jack! If Bush cover-up works perfectly for 9/11, what makes you thing they are not going to be successful kicking the investigation and court back. The Bush Administration corrupted system that differentiates the unity of people; I hope to see some good, now I really dislike republicans and their leadership. Shame!
On the film we saw interrogators face was covered! CIA Officials said that “the film was destroyed for the safety of the interrogators” . Jack that is just absurd and barbaric, it’s time for this administration to give power. We should ask Sen. Jon Biden to appeal the president power and further action for Bush to step down.
Bush is just scared that if there's anything that can be used as evidence for impeachment against him, he wants to make sure it doesn't exist and doesn't want people finding out.
Too bad. At least he won't have to worry next year.
These tapes are gone so why are people all up in arms. Nothing will come of it any how. Just spend more money for nothing, things happen in war and if it takes a little force to save thousands of lives then so be it. Been there and it happens so put you time on something that can be changed
When information is protected, there is a reason for it. Without disclosure, we must assume the worst. Since even our representatives in Congress are not being granted by the administration access to documents and other evidence, we should interpret this as the worst possible scenario. Criminal elements have perpetrated our government.
Lets examine the attractive force of government power, starting at the local level:
There have been many reports of local cops performing drug raids who have given in to the temptation of taking a slice of the pie for themselves. At first it may be a small slice which is taken with good intentions. A kid's college education or an emergency medical procedure for instance. The action is then repeated by the cop with ever bigger slices. Other cops may see him getting away with it and join the practice. It spreads until the entire department is corrupt.
There is a large attractive force that draws people to the local drug trade. There is no question that this force can corrupt those who come into contact with it. Now, lets consider the size of the national drug trade. A cop in the Drug Enforcement Agency is exposed to a much greater force than a local police officer. If this power is enough to corrupt a local cop, then there is an even greater risk that an officer of a federal agency may be corrupted. Finally, what is the power of the global drug trade? If a local officer can succumb to a small room full of cocaine, what is the risk of corruption to a federal officer being faced with huge cargo loads of drugs?
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/12/19210/608
Once addicted to or entrapped by power, a junkie would certainly look for bigger and better means of acquiring it. If he were a part of a network of power junkies with members spread throughout government, how much could he get away with? What would the limits be to an addict in prime political position? Why not control the entire power cycle?
For example, Afghanistan is the world leader in opium poppy production. There is a huge financial incentive in controlling it. Why has production and trade of opium from Afghanistan increased since the U.S. occupation? Have agents become corrupted? Was this the intention all along? Is poppy production being protected in the name of profit?
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/staff/marisa_taylor/story/15320.html
What about the attractive force of corruption in other global industries? Can arms manufacturers be morally compromised? Can crises be manufactured to their benefit? How about the energy industry? Is terrorism being used as a pretext to invade and occupy countries with abundant natural resources such as oil, natural gas, uranium, and gold? Would there be a financial benefit to stirring civil unrest and genocide in these countries? Is the humanitarian crisis in Darfur related to the rich natural resources in the region?
http://www.breakfornews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=847
Just curious what documents were being burned in Dick's office this morning.
Todays fire in the building Cheney has his ceremonial office indiactes our VP has been working once again, this time on Hot Water Boarding.
I'll bet you this.... If a active duty military person told a FOUR STAR General they threw away/ burned a duty log, a courts martial would be awarded. Come on people.
Who really cares,whats done is done.I would have liked to see some lowlift get the crap kicked out of him,but there destroyed,so move on congress.
>>I'M TIRED OF BUSH:
TREATING THE AMERICAN CITIZEN LIKE PEASANTS AND CANNON FODDER!
>>GET A ROPE..! ...THE SAME ONE USED FOR SADAM!
**Disgusted Army vet....who WANTS to make his country a better place!
Why is it that people have no stomach for impeachment and investigating impropriety and stonewalling? I think Americans have become complacent losers with no backbone for standing up to the tenets of the US Constitution. It's a real shame that our great country has been systematically reduced to a shadow of it's real greatness, all because of our desire to let christian fundamentalism and corporate cronyism rule the land.
Nixon (who got us out of an unpopular war) was impeached for his involvement in the Watergate cover-up. Bush (who created an unpopular war!) has committed a much more serious crime - Obstruction of Justice!
Destruction of tapes AGAIN? Ahh, the good 'ole days of Watergate. I remember them well. History repeats itself like a theme and variations.
we are speaking about the same people who killed 3000 of our citizens in n.y. on 911. also the the pentagon and pa.i dont really care how bad they have it at gitmo.they started it and we shall finish it,period.
I expect nothing at all will ever be done about it.
It's the same old, same old game. Pretend to be outraged & scream a little bloody murder, then threaten investigations and hearings, now once the people are no longer paying attention, just let it go.
Since nothing ever changes at the top, why do we expect a different outcome?
All I know for sure is that Bill Clinton's lies about sex didn't kill 3,000+ of our Soldiers. I think they are all dirty, but the Clintons dirt doesn't have American blood mixed in it.
The America we now know can't handle what they found out!
Doesn't anyone find it ironic that at the same time that the defense department is releasing videotape of Iraqi torture chambers to the media – that the CIA is destroying videotape of USA torture chambers? And, Bush has no comment. Where are our moral values? Where is the Christian outrage? Do we really not care (as a nation)? This isn't 24 and Bush is not Jack Bauer. In real life, we can't just torture people based on an accusation (witch hunt). None of these people who are being held in Cuba have been convicted in a court of law. None of them have the chance to defend themselves. It's freakin' scary!