Publication: Progressive Review
House Vows to Pursue CIA Inquiry | |
Subscribe FREE to Progressive Review by clicking here.
THE PROGRESSIVE REVIEW - December 27, 2007
------------------------------------------------------------
House Vows to Pursue CIA Inquiry
By Julian E. Barnes
The Los Angeles Times
A key GOP lawmaker says his committee will investigate the
destruction of interrogation tapes over the objections of
the Justice Department.
Washington - The top Republican on the House Intelligence
Committee vowed Sunday to press ahead with the congressional
investigation of the CIA's destruction of interrogation
videotapes, despite the strenuous objections of the Justice
Department.
Rep. Peter Hoekstra of Michigan said Congress would call
witnesses and demand documents in order to investigate
the CIA's decision to destroy videotapes of the interrog-
ations of two suspected Al Qaeda operatives.
"We want to hold the [intelligence] community accountable
for what's happened with these tapes," Hoekstra said. "I
think we will issue subpoenas."
------------------------------------------------------------
>*< >*< >*< Every American Should be Proud >*< >*< >*<
Fly Your U.S. Marine Corps Flag Today
Celebrate the most feared and respected troops in the world
with your own Marine Corps flag. For over two hundred years
the first line of offense in every American military effort
has been the U.S. Marines.
From the battlefields of the Revolutionary War, to the
shores of Tripoli, and in today's far distant battlefields,
the Marines have kept their tradition of courage and honor
in the air, on land and sea. Anchor, globe and eagle. Any-
where in the world, any time. Show your support for the
few, the proud, the Marines. Get your 5'x 3' durable nylon
United States Marine Corp Flag for $14.99 today.
Visit: U.S. Marine Corps Flag
------------------------------------------------------------
On Friday, the Justice Department said it would not
cooperate with any congressional investigation, contending
that giving lawmakers information could subject the inquiry
to political pressures. Immediately after that announce-
ment, Hoekstra and the committee chairman, Rep. Silvestre
Reyes (D-Texas), said they were stunned that the Justice
Department was trying to block the investigation.
The two lawmakers have requested all of the CIA's records
related to the creation and destruction of the tapes.
Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Hoekstra said he believed
his committee would defy the Justice Department's demand
that Congress halt its inquiry and would force the Bush
administration to provide information. Although Hoekstra
said it was likely the committee would issue subpoenas to
force testimony and documents, members have not decided
whether to offer immunity to potential witnesses.
Interviewed with Hoekstra, Rep. Jane Harman of Venice,
the intelligence panel's top Democrat from 2003 to 2006,
told Fox that she had warned the CIA in 2003 not to
destroy the tapes.
"It smells like the coverup of the coverup," she said.
------------------------------------------------------------
BRIEFCASE/LAPTOP BAG
Normal Price: $19.99
DEAL PRICE: $5.99
Plain and simple this is one heck of a deal. Discounted
below cost, you'll want to pick up a couple. Makes a
great gift. Check it out by visiting: Briefcase/Laptop Bag
------------------------------------------------------------
Harman, who is no longer on the intelligence committee,
said that Congress and the Justice Department had conducted
parallel inquires before.
Hoekstra was extremely critical of the intelligence
community and its leaders, calling them arrogant, political
and incompetent. "They've clearly demonstrated through the
tapes case that they don't believe that they are account-
able to Congress," Hoekstra said. "And when we are at war,
that is a terrible position for the intelligence community
to be."
The tapes were created in 2002 and destroyed three years
later. The reason cited was concerns that if they were
leaked, the identities of the CIA interrogators would be
compromised. They reportedly showed CIA officers interroga-
ting Abu Zubaydah, an Al Qaeda suspect linked to the
Sept. 11 plot, using a technique known as waterboarding.
Human rights advocates, many Democratic lawmakers and
Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who was tortured
as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, say waterboarding is a
form of torture and is banned under U.S. law and inter-
national treaties. The technique involves strapping a
prisoner to a board, covering his face with cloth or
other material and dousing the cloth with water to
simulate drowning.
------------------------------------------------------------
NORTH POINT WIRELESS HEADPHONES
w/ Built-In FM Scan Radio
TV & Store Price: $24.99
OUR PRICE: $14.99
North Point Wireless Headphones With Built-In FM Radio
Enjoy music anywhere in your home or office without any
wires. These High Quality wireless headphones provide
amazing clarity with wireless technology that emits sound
up to 25 feet in distance.
They're Easy To Use... The transmitter quickly connects to
any receiver, MP3, DVD player, gaming systems, computers
and more with the RCA and mini-plug adapters.
FIVE (5) FUNCTIONS IN ONE:
- Wireless Headphones
- Internet Chat/Gaming
- Audio Monitoring
- FM Auto-Scan Radio
- Wired Audio Connection
This is one of those items that always sells out. Even at
full retail price the North Point Wireless Headphones is
steal compared to other brands... and the quality will
thrill you.
NORTH POINT WIRELESS HEADPHONES w/ Built-In FM Scan Radio
------------------------------------------------------------
In the Fox interview, Harman said that she did not believe
waterboarding worked and that she hoped the CIA's
interrogation program would be forced to operate under
the rules of the Army Field Manual, which prohibits harsh
techniques and almost all physical stress. The House has
passed legislation, which President Bush has threatened to
veto, mandating such a requirement.
But Hoekstra would not swear off waterboarding.
"The last thing we ought to do is telegraph to Al Qaeda or
other terrorist organizations exactly what may happen if
and when they are captured," Hoekstra said. "I don't want
to give them our playbook."
------------------------------------------------------------
Questions? Comments? email: Email your comments
-----------------------------------------------------------
Check out Political Videos on the Net at evtv1.com
Political Videos
ARCHIVES: PROGRESSIVE REVIEW Archives
Here's the link to the Home page of the PROGRESSIVE REVIEW
Forum: THE PROGRESSIVE REVIEW Forum
------------------------------------------------------------
End of PROGRESSIVE REVIEW
Copyright 2007 by NextEra Media. All rights reserved.
 E-Mail this issue
Subscribe FREE to Progressive Review by clicking here.
|