Posted on 08/24/2009 1:45:07 PM PDT by Cindy
Note: The following text is a quote:
CIA Home > News & Information > Press Releases & Statements > Message from the Director: Release of Material on Past Detention Practices
Statement to Employees by Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Leon E. Panetta on Release of Material on Past Detention Practices
August 24, 2009
Today, as part of a number of Freedom of Information Act cases, the government is responding to court orders to release more documents related to the Agency’s past detention and interrogation of foreign terrorists. The CIA materials include the 2004 report from our Office of Inspector General and two papers—one from 2004 and the other from 2005—that discuss the value of intelligence acquired from high-level detainees. The complete package is hundreds of pages long. The declassification process, a mandatory part of the proceedings, was conducted in accord with established FOIA guidelines.
This is in many ways an old story. The outlines of prior interrogation practices, and many of the details, are public already. The use of enhanced interrogation techniques, begun when our country was responding to the horrors of September 11th, ended in January. For the CIA now, the challenge is not the battles of yesterday, but those of today and tomorrow. It is there that we must work to enhance the safety of our country. That is the job the American people want us to do, and that is my responsibility as the current Director of the CIA.
My emphasis on the future comes with a clear recognition that our Agency takes seriously proper accountability for the past. As the intelligence service of a democracy, that’s an important part of who we are. When it comes to past detention and interrogation practices, here are some facts to bear in mind on that point:
The CIA itself commissioned the Inspector General’s review. The report, prepared five years ago, noted both the effectiveness of the interrogation program and concerns about how it had been run early on. Several Agency components, including the Office of General Counsel and the Directorate of Operations, disagreed with some of the findings and conclusions. The CIA referred allegations of abuse to the Department of Justice for potential prosecution. This Agency made no excuses for behavior, however rare, that went beyond the formal guidelines on counterterrorism. The Department of Justice has had the complete IG report since 2004. Its career prosecutors have examined that document—and other incidents from Iraq and Afghanistan—for legal accountability. They worked carefully and thoroughly, sometimes taking years to decide if prosecution was warranted or not. In one case, the Department obtained a criminal conviction of a CIA contractor. In other instances, after Justice chose not to pursue action in court, the Agency took disciplinary steps of its own. The CIA provided the complete, unredacted IG report to the Congress. It was made available to the leadership of the Congressional intelligence committees in 2004 and to the full committees in 2006. All of the material in the document has been subject to Congressional oversight and reviewed for legal accountability. As Director in 2009, my primary interest—when it comes to a program that no longer exists—is to stand up for those officers who did what their country asked and who followed the legal guidance they were given. That is the President’s position, too. The CIA was aggressive over the years in seeking new opinions from the Department of Justice as the legal landscape changed. The Agency sought and received multiple written assurances that its methods were lawful. The CIA has a strong record in terms of following legal guidance and informing the Department of Justice of potentially illegal conduct.
I make no judgments on the accuracy of the 2004 IG report or the various views expressed about it. Nor am I eager to enter the debate, already politicized, over the ultimate utility of the Agency’s past detention and interrogation effort. But this much is clear: The CIA obtained intelligence from high-value detainees when inside information on al-Qa’ida was in short supply. Whether this was the only way to obtain that information will remain a legitimate area of dispute, with Americans holding a range of views on the methods used. The CIA requested and received legal guidance and referred allegations of abuse to the Department of Justice. President Obama has established new policies for interrogation.
The CIA must also keep its focus on the primary responsibility of protecting the country. America is a nation at war. This Agency plays a decisive role in helping the United States meet the full range of security threats and opportunities overseas. That starts with the continuing fight against al-Qa’ida and its sympathizers. There, alongside all its other contributions, the CIA is helping our government chart a new way forward on interrogation, one in keeping with the President’s Executive Order of January 22nd. You, the men and women of this great institution, do the hard work and take the tough risks that intelligence and espionage demand.
I am very proud of what you do, here and abroad, to protect the United States. Your skill, courage, commitment, and focus on mission make the CIA indispensable to the nation. It is a privilege to serve with you.
Leon E. Panetta
Posted: Aug 24, 2009 12:28 PM Last Updated: Aug 24, 2009 12:30 PM Last Reviewed: Aug 24, 2009 12:28 PM
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/testimony/2009/ag-testimony-090824.html
Statement of Attorney General Eric Holder Regarding a Preliminary Review into the Interrogation of Certain Detainees
Monday, August 24, 2009
“The Office of Professional Responsibility has now submitted to me its report regarding the Office of Legal Counsel memoranda related to so-called enhanced interrogation techniques. I hope to be able to make as much of that report available as possible after it undergoes a declassification review and other steps. Among other findings, the report recommends that the Department reexamine previous decisions to decline prosecution in several cases related to the interrogation of certain detainees.
“I have reviewed the OPR report in depth. Moreover, I have closely examined the full, still-classified version of the 2004 CIA Inspector General’s report, as well as other relevant information available to the Department. As a result of my analysis of all of this material, I have concluded that the information known to me warrants opening a preliminary review into whether federal laws were violated in connection with the interrogation of specific detainees at overseas locations. The Department regularly uses preliminary reviews to gather information to determine whether there is sufficient predication to warrant a full investigation of a matter. I want to emphasize that neither the opening of a preliminary review nor, if evidence warrants it, the commencement of a full investigation, means that charges will necessarily follow.
“Assistant United States Attorney John Durham was appointed in 2008 by then-Attorney General Michael Mukasey to investigate the destruction of CIA videotapes of detainee interrogations. During the course of that investigation, Mr. Durham has gained great familiarity with much of the information that is relevant to the matter at hand. Accordingly, I have decided to expand his mandate to encompass this related review. Mr. Durham, who is a career prosecutor with the Department of Justice and who has assembled a strong investigative team of experienced professionals, will recommend to me whether there is sufficient predication for a full investigation into whether the law was violated in connection with the interrogation of certain detainees.
“There are those who will use my decision to open a preliminary review as a means of broadly criticizing the work of our nation’s intelligence community. I could not disagree more with that view. The men and women in our intelligence community perform an incredibly important service to our nation, and they often do so under difficult and dangerous circumstances. They deserve our respect and gratitude for the work they do. Further, they need to be protected from legal jeopardy when they act in good faith and within the scope of legal guidance. That is why I have made it clear in the past that the Department of Justice will not prosecute anyone who acted in good faith and within the scope of the legal guidance given by the Office of Legal Counsel regarding the interrogation of detainees. I want to reiterate that point today, and to underscore the fact that this preliminary review will not focus on those individuals.
“I share the President’s conviction that as a nation, we must, to the extent possible, look forward and not backward when it comes to issues such as these. While this Department will follow its obligation to take this preliminary step to examine possible violations of law, we will not allow our important work of keeping the American people safe to be sidetracked.
“I fully realize that my decision to commence this preliminary review will be controversial. As Attorney General, my duty is to examine the facts and to follow the law. In this case, given all of the information currently available, it is clear to me that this review is the only responsible course of action for me to take.”
###
So I guess we start the investigation with Bill Clinton’s rendition program?
It will be fun when we get Obama on trial. The things we can find out from the Joker’s crime family ought to be really juicy.
Panetta’s letter is a sad document.
>>As Director in 2009, my primary interest—when it comes to a program that no longer exists—is to stand up for those officers who did what their country asked and who followed the legal guidance they were given. That is the President’s position, too.
Then why has the President instigated a witch hunt and nascent purge?
Note: The following text is a quote:
THE BRIEFING ROOM
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 24, 2009
Statement from the Press Secretary on the Department of Justice Inquiry
The President has said repeatedly that he wants to look forward, not back, and the President agrees with the Attorney General that those who acted in good faith and within the scope of legal guidance should not be prosecuted. Ultimately, determinations about whether someone broke the law are made independently by the Attorney General.
Thanks to the Swarthy Guy for the ping to this post.
“Pink Blankie Alert”
ORBAT ^ | 8-23-09 | Ravi Rikhye
Posted on August 24, 2009 11:38:46 AM PDT by swarthyguy
That’s a good question and a key question.
WHITEHOUSE.gov: Center for Strategic and International Studies, James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, Washington, DC - Remarks by John O. Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism -- As Prepared for Delivery "A NEW APPROACH TO SAFEGUARDING AMERICANS"" (August 6, 2009)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2323528/posts
“Special Task Force on Interrogations and Transfer Policies Issues Its Recommendations...”
FBI.gov - Press Release ^ | August 24, 2009 | n/a
Posted on August 24, 2009 2:08:08 PM PDT by Cindy
Opinion:
KT McFarland - FOXNews.com - August 24, 2009
“CIA Trials Would Be a Dangerous Mistake”
SNIPPET: “If we do to the intelligence community today what we did to it thirty years ago we risk compromising human intelligence gathering once again, and being blind, once again, to the next terrorist attack. “
SNIPPET: “Kathleen Troia “K.T.” McFarland served in national security posts in the Nixon, Ford and Reagan Administrations. She is a Senior Advisor to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, and the author of DEFCON-3 by KT, a FOX News.com video blog.”
>>Ultimately, determinations about whether someone broke the law are made independently by the Attorney General.
TOTAL freaking copout. Not even the guts to admit it’s your policy but to fob it off on the AG.
Suppose if it gets too messy Holder will quit to spend time with the family, but in a institutional sense for the CIA and the Pentagon, the damage will have been done.
Way to go, Democrats, reinforce the inherent doubts in the populace about your national security bonafides.
ON THE INTERNET - A TIME CAPSULE SAMPLER:
www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/24/justice-dept-advises-pursuing-cia-abuses/
“Holder to Appoint Special Prosecutor to Probe Terror Suspect Interrogations
The decision comes as the Department of Justice releases a 2004 report from the CIA’s inspector general detailing allegations of harsh interrogation practices.”
FOXNews.com
Monday, August 24, 2009
###
###
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/24/AR2009082401743_pf.html
“Holder to Appoint Prosecutor to Investigate CIA Terror Interrogations”
By Carrie Johnson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 24, 2009 2:23 PM
###
###
english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/08/2009824194527984688.html
UPDATED ON:
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2009
00:59 MECCA TIME, 21:59 GMT
“NEWS AMERICAS
CIA report alleges detainee abuse”
#
english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/08/200982122735144266.html
UPDATED ON:
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2009
07:04 MECCA TIME, 04:04 GMT
NEWS AMERICAS
“Blackwater ‘used in al-Qaeda plot’”
#
www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?type=News
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2323622/posts
#
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/FeaturedCategories.aspx?sid=1801&cid=1827
#
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=336005488181276
“The Justice Dept.’s War On Heroes”
By INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Monday, August 24, 2009 4:20 PM PT
SNIPPET: “National Security: Appointing a prosecutor to harass CIA interrogators exposes this administration’s priorities: The global war on terror takes a back seat to terrorizing some of America’s most selfless warriors.”
Thanks to PJ Comix for the ping to this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2323723/posts
“DUmmie FUnnies 08-24-09 (Holder Special CIA Prosecutor Inspires KOmmie Bloodlust)”
NewsBusters ^ | August 24, 2009 | KOmmies and PJ-Comix
Posted on August 24, 2009 7:43:38 PM PDT by PJ-Comix
The following blog entry and brief statement is a quote:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/08/cheney_statement_on_cia_docume.asp
Cheney Statement on CIA Documents/Investigation
Former Vice President Dick Cheney gave The Weekly Standard a statement Monday night about the CIA documents and the coming Justice Department investigation.
The documents released Monday clearly demonstrate that the individuals subjected to Enhanced Interrogation Techniques provided the bulk of intelligence we gained about al Qaeda. This intelligence saved lives and prevented terrorist attacks. These detainees also, according to the documents, played a role in nearly every capture of al Qaeda members and associates since 2002. The activities of the CIA in carrying out the policies of the Bush Administration were directly responsible for defeating all efforts by al Qaeda to launch further mass casualty attacks against the United States. The people involved deserve our gratitude. They do not deserve to be the targets of political investigations or prosecutions. President Obama’s decision to allow the Justice Department to investigate and possibly prosecute CIA personnel, and his decision to remove authority for interrogation from the CIA to the White House, serves as a reminder, if any were needed, of why so many Americans have doubts about this Administration’s ability to be responsible for our nation’s security.
Posted by Stephen F. Hayes on August 24, 2009 10:06 PM
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/25/cheney-republicans-blast-interrogation-probe/
“Cheney, Republicans Blast Interrogation Probe”
SNIPPET: “Former vice president, top Republican senators criticize decision to begin a new criminal probe of past interrogation tactics. Cheney said, “the people involved deserve our gratitude.””
FOXNews.com
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Washington
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.dni.gov/press_releases/20090824_release.pdf
DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
WASHINGTON, DC 20511
August 24, 2009
The following message by Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair was sent to employees
of the United States Intelligence Community:
As we approach the eighth anniversary of 9/11, we in the Intelligence Community can be proud of
the work that thousands of us have done, are doing, and must continue to do to help keep the
country safe. Against a ruthless enemy that violates the norms of civilized behavior, we along with
our teammates from other departments and agencies, have carried out our duties effectively, and in
ways that exemplify American values. Over the next several days there will be public discussion
about individual incidents from the past in which some intelligence officers fell short of the high
standards we set for ourselves. Their conduct tarnishes us all. However, the questionable actions of
a few should not obscure the dedicated, difficult and correct actions of the many. Most important,
we must continue to improve our effectiveness against an enemy still seeking to attack us.
In the future we will find and detain more important officials of al Qaida and sympathizer groups.
Based on the recommendations of a task force of which I was co-vice chair, the President has
decided that high-value interrogations will be conducted by a dedicated, expert interagency
interrogation team, backed by a strong analytical team. This team will not use enhanced
interrogation techniques and will be guided by the Army Field Manual.
Another important issue in the public domain over the next several days will be Congressional
oversight of the Intelligence Community. I and the other leaders in the Intelligence Community are
committed to keeping the Congress fully and currently informed. We have repeatedly demonstrated
our genuine commitment to serious oversight in partnership with the Congress during my seven
months as DNI and will continue to do so.
So, as you read the articles, watch the television reports and check out the blogs, remember that the
fundamental strength of this country is to learn from our past and do better in the future. Your job
is to sustain the best of what has been developed by those before you and to improve on the rest.
Meanwhile, we have work to do and a country to keep safe. Press on.
Dennis C. Blair
Note: The following text is a quote:
THE BRIEFING ROOM
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 24, 2009
Statement from the Press Secretary on the Department of Justice Inquiry
The President has said repeatedly that he wants to look forward, not back, and the President agrees with the Attorney General that those who acted in good faith and within the scope of legal guidance should not be prosecuted. Ultimately, determinations about whether someone broke the law are made independently by the Attorney General.
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