Why the CIA Would Want to Hide May 2002 from Judge Hellerstein (and the ACLU)
I've had a couple of really weedy posts examining the CIA's response to the torture FOIA (Cherry-Pick One, Cherry-Pick Two, FOIA Exemptions). And I wanted to pull back a bit, and explain what I think they might mean.
We're getting all these documents because the CIA is trying to avoid being held in contempt for not revealing the now-destroyed torture tapes in a response to this FOIA in 2004.
Why Doesn't the CIA's Vaughn Index Match the CIA's Vaughn Index?
Back in May, the CIA admitted it was deliberating about Abu Zubaydah's torture on a frequent basis. Two days ago, it changed its mind.
Did Somebody Improperly Make Torture a Special Access Program?
The EO on classification says the Director of CIA has to make intelligence programs special access programs. But it appears that someone at NSC made torture a SAP.
Chamber of Commerce Bids "Campaign for Free Enterprise" to Attack the Bailouts It Doesn't Like
The Chamber of Commerce wants you to forget it has been sucking at the federal teat for the last nine months.
Sheldon Whitehouse: "No Further Actionable Intelligence Was Obtained" from Abu Zubaydah by Waterboarding
Sheldon Whitehouse says we got no actionable intelligence from Abu Zubaydah through waterboarding.
SSCI Investigating Its Torture Briefings
David Corn reports that the SSCI has included its torture briefings in its investigation on torture--and wonders whether that might get Cheney in trouble. I'm guessing that Cheney's briefing of SSCI may be the least of the investigation.
AP's Definition of "Unbiased Source of News:" Don't Criticize the Clients
AP thinks it's a sign of bias if you suggest that corporate managers ought to be punished for bad business decisions.
CIA IG Report: To Be Released on June 19
There are more revelations on the way from the CIA.
Leon Panetta: I've Got to Protect the Contractors from Unwarranted Invasion of Privacy
Leon Panetta admits he's protecting the identities of contractors.
Gravely Damaging Intelligence Gaps
Leon Panetta says we can't have the CIA documents because it'll show the intelligence gaps the CIA had.
You mean, like the fact they had no idea who Abu Zubaydah really was?!?!?
The CIA's Cherry Pick, Two
Earlier, I suggested the CIA didn't want to give Judge Hellerstein the earliest deliberative documents on Abu Zubaydah. It appears they don't want to reveal details of their own investigation into waterboarding, either.
The CIA's Cherry-Pick
Did the CIA cherry-pick which documents it gave Judge Hellerstein to avoid turning over incriminating cables?
1000 Words
The CIA won't reveal its photo of Abu Zubaydah because it'll reveal sources and methods.
Leon Panetta Kisses His Credibility Goodbye
Leon Panetta claims he's not trying to hide evidence of criminal wrongdoing by hiding the torture cables. And he's lying.
Dan Maffei Joins Bob Corker in Trying to Rewrite BK Law Just for Car Dealers
Yet another Congressman pushing for car dealers to be exempted from the ill effects of the Chrysler and GM bankruptcies.
On Jane Harman and NAO
Folks are worried about Jane Harman opposing satellite surveillance of Americans. They shouldn't be.
Vaughn Walker's Chess Game: Sue the Telecoms Part One
Here are the potential areas under which EFF might be able to sue the telecoms going forward.
Cheney's and Gonzales' CYA Libraries
Cheney's CYA document from 2005? It comes from the day after Alberto Gonzales purportedly tried to convince the Principals Committee not to support torture.
"Legal"
The NYT claims that Jim Comey agreed that waterboarding was legal. But that's not what they show. Rather, they show that Jim Comey probably agreed that waterboarding did not violate 18 USC 2340-2340A, which is just one of the laws that govern torture in this country.
All the News NYT Does Not See Fit to Print
The NYT got a handful of emails that made it clear that Jim Comey had attempted to dissuade the Bush Administration from torture. But instead, it reported that he had approved of torture. Here's the other stuff the NYT doesn't seem fit to tell you about Comey's emails.