War Criminals

More evidence that the most senior of Bushies approved torture.

Highly placed sources said a handful of top advisers signed off on how the CIA would interrogate top al Qaeda suspects -- whether they would be slapped, pushed, deprived of sleep or subjected to simulated drowning, called waterboarding.

The high-level discussions about these "enhanced interrogation techniques" were so detailed, these sources said, some of the interrogation sessions were almost choreographed -- down to the number of times CIA agents could use a specific tactic.

The advisers were members of the National Security Council's Principals Committee, a select group of senior officials who met frequently to advise President Bush on issues of national security policy.

At the time, the Principals Committee included Vice President Cheney, former National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell, as well as CIA Director George Tenet and Attorney General John Ashcroft.
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According to a former CIA official involved in the process, CIA headquarters would receive cables from operatives in the field asking for authorization for specific techniques. Agents, worried about overstepping their boundaries, would await guidance in particularly complicated cases dealing with high-value detainees, two CIA sources said.

Highly placed sources said CIA directors Tenet and later Porter Goss along with agency lawyers briefed senior advisers, including Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld and Powell, about detainees in CIA custody overseas.

"It kept coming up. CIA wanted us to sign off on each one every time," said one high-ranking official who asked not to be identified. "They'd say, 'We've got so and so. This is the plan.'"

Sources said that at each discussion, all the Principals present approved.

Colin Powell, who I've tried to maintain a modicum of respect for, is especially disturbing. I understand the "loyal soldier" explanation. I appreciate the idea of trying to fix a problem from the inside. Especially when those on the outside are so ineffectual. But there has to be a point where one publicly walks away from this situation and announces publicly why.

If what the article says is accurate then obviously the CIA operatives involved knew what they were doing was wrong. Why else go back for approval each and every time. It was classic CYA. Kick the responsibility up the ladder for every incident. When you get called to the mat for it you can at least use the "following orders" defense. You can ask for immunity and bring down the bigger fish.

Rumsfeld seemed to know what was going on:

Then-Attorney General Ashcroft was troubled by the discussions. He agreed with the general policy decision to allow aggressive tactics and had repeatedly advised that they were legal. But he argued that senior White House advisers should not be involved in the grim details of interrogations, sources said.

According to a top official, Ashcroft asked aloud after one meeting: "Why are we talking about this in the White House? History will not judge this kindly."

Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, et al., would be well advised to never leave the U.S. again. It is shameful that they will never face justice for what they have done in the United States.

Our country's black eye is deep, purple and will take a long time to heal. I can't express how depressed this makes me feel. My government has tortured and killed people.