Omission cited in destruction of interrogation videos

WASHINGTON — When the CIA sent word in 2005 to destroy scores of videos showing waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics, there was an unusual omission in the carefully worded memo: the names of two agency lawyers. [...] But when the CIA’s top clandestine officer, Jose Rodriguez, told a colleague at the agency’s secret prison in Thailand to destroy interrogation videos, he left the lawyers off the note. [rest of article deleted for copyright reasons]

In the wake of last weekend's spectacular security breach, Congress should shut down the prosecution of CIA officer Jose Rodriguez.

Rodriguez ordered the destruction of videotapes of harsh interrogation of two al-Qa'ida leaders. He foresaw that White House lawyers had no clue how to block the release of al-Qa'ida recruiting videos that would serve as the death warrant for anyone, even those innocent, who appeared in them. As the "Globe" article notes, the relevant information for any legitimate purposes was transcribed before the tapes were destroyed.

The *extended* harsh interrogation of the two al-Qa'ida leaders reflects poorly on the senior officials responsible, who perhaps should be prosecuted. Nevertheless, mass murder of noncombatant civilians is a worse crime than harsh handling of the guilty. Torture that leaves permanent damage can never be excused, but temporary "pressure" on criminals that saves innocent lives sometimes can be.

Willingness to stand up for one's subordinates (aka "honor") is an indispensable quality of a combat leader. Some claim Mr. Rodriguez should be indicted for "obstruction of justice." The correct charge is "obstruction of treason."

Congress should commend Mr. Rodriguez for his foresight and moral courage, extinguish his legal worries, and reimburse his legal expenses. --Hugo S. Cunningham

When the CIA sent word in 2005 to destroy scores of videos showing waterboarding

Wasn't it only dozens of waterboarding episodes in TOTAL, and only on 3 people, including KSM?

The Boston Glob ran disproven porn site photos as "evidence" that "US" "GIs" were "raping" "Iraqi" women AFTER the hoax had been exposed.

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