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CIA 'wiped' interrogation tapes CIA 'wiped' interrogation tapes
(about 4 hours later)
The CIA has confirmed that it destroyed at least two video tapes showing the interrogation of terror suspects.The CIA has confirmed that it destroyed at least two video tapes showing the interrogation of terror suspects.
According to the intelligence agency, the tapes were destroyed to protect the identity of CIA agents and because they no longer had intelligence value.According to the intelligence agency, the tapes were destroyed to protect the identity of CIA agents and because they no longer had intelligence value.
But the New York Times says that they were wiped because they showed severe interrogation methods being used.But the New York Times says that they were wiped because they showed severe interrogation methods being used.
Officials feared the tapes could have raised doubts about the legality of the CIA's techniques, the newspaper says.Officials feared the tapes could have raised doubts about the legality of the CIA's techniques, the newspaper says.
The tapes are thought to have shown the interrogation in 2002 of a number of terror suspects, including Abu Zubaydah, who had been a chief recruiter for the al-Qaeda network.The tapes are thought to have shown the interrogation in 2002 of a number of terror suspects, including Abu Zubaydah, who had been a chief recruiter for the al-Qaeda network.
The videos were, according to the New York Times, wiped in 2005, at the time the agency was being scrutinised about its secret detention programme.The videos were, according to the New York Times, wiped in 2005, at the time the agency was being scrutinised about its secret detention programme.
The damage is compounded when such actions are hidden away from accountability Senator Patrick LeahySenate Judiciary Committee Chairman The Associated Press news agency on Thursday obtained a letter sent to all CIA employees by the agency's current director, Michael Hayden, explaining why the footage was destroyed.
In a letter sent to all CIA employees by the agency's current director, Michael Hayden, the CIA began taping interrogations as an internal check in 2002. TORTURE TECHNIQUES Water boarding: prisoner bound to a board with feet raised, and cellophane wrapped round his head. Water is poured onto his face and is said to produce a fear of drowningCold cell: prisoner made to stand naked in a cold, though not freezing, cell and doused with waterStanding: Prisoners stand for 40 hours and more, shackled to the floorBelly slap: a hard slap to the stomach with an open hand. This is designed to be painful but not to cause injury Source: ABC News class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/4499528.stm">Defining torture
In his internal memo Mr Hayden said the tapes posed a serious security risk, warning that were they ever to leak, they would permit the identification of CIA operatives, exposing them and their families to retaliation from al-Qaeda and its sympathisers. In the internal memo, Mr Hayden told staff that the CIA had begun taping interrogations as an internal check in 2002 and decided to delete the videos because they lacked any "legal or internal reason" to keep them.
According to AP, the CIA chief wrote to employees: "The tapes posed a serious security risk.
"Were they ever to leak, they would permit identification of your CIA colleagues who had served in the program, exposing them and their families to retaliation from al-Qaeda and its sympathizers."
'Troubling''Troubling'
The CIA acknowledges that these early interrogations were harsh, but Mr Hayden says that the CIA's internal watchdogs saw the tapes in 2003 and verified that the techniques used were legal.The CIA acknowledges that these early interrogations were harsh, but Mr Hayden says that the CIA's internal watchdogs saw the tapes in 2003 and verified that the techniques used were legal.
But Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, said the tapes' destruction was troubling: But Senate judiciary committee chairman Patrick Leahy said the tapes' destruction was troubling.
The damage is compounded when such actions are hidden away from accountability Senator Patrick LeahySenate Judiciary Committee Chairman
"The damage is compounded when such actions are hidden away from accountability," he said."The damage is compounded when such actions are hidden away from accountability," he said.
The American Civil Liberties Union has accused the agency of showing an utter disregard for the law.The American Civil Liberties Union has accused the agency of showing an utter disregard for the law.
Michael Hayden wrote to all CIA employees about the tapesThe BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says the news is likely to trigger more questions about the interrogation techniques used by the CIA and whether they amounted to torture. The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says the news is likely to trigger more questions about the interrogation techniques used by the CIA and whether they amounted to torture.
There are also questions over whether CIA agents withheld information from the courts and a presidential commission.There are also questions over whether CIA agents withheld information from the courts and a presidential commission.
The CIA's failure to make the tapes available to a federal court hearing the case of the terror suspect Zacarias Moussaoui or to the 9/11 commission could amount to obstruction of justice, according to the New York Times. The CIA's failure to make the tapes available to a federal court hearing the case of the terror suspect Zacarias Moussaoui or to the 9/11 Commission could amount to obstruction of justice, according to the New York Times.
Lawyers in the Moussaoui trial and officials from the 9/11 Commission had both requested from the CIA details of any relevant interrogations of al-Qaeda suspects.Lawyers in the Moussaoui trial and officials from the 9/11 Commission had both requested from the CIA details of any relevant interrogations of al-Qaeda suspects.
Michael Hayden wrote to all CIA employees about the tapes
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US, President George W Bush authorised the use of "harsh techniques" in the interrogation of suspected terrorists.After the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US, President George W Bush authorised the use of "harsh techniques" in the interrogation of suspected terrorists.
Waterboarding
According to our correspondent, those techniques are alleged to have included water-boarding, a method in which a suspect is held down and gagged while water is poured into his mouth in order to simulate drowning.According to our correspondent, those techniques are alleged to have included water-boarding, a method in which a suspect is held down and gagged while water is poured into his mouth in order to simulate drowning.
Human rights groups say that waterboarding - and other techniques allegedly used by the CIA - can be defined as torture under various international treaties to which the US is a signatory. Human rights groups say that water-boarding - and other techniques allegedly used by the CIA - can be defined as torture under various international treaties to which the US is a signatory.
The Bush administration has always maintained that it does not allow the use of torture.The Bush administration has always maintained that it does not allow the use of torture.