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December 2, 2008 11:46:27 AM CST

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House Subpoenas Top Ex-Spy

Posted Dec 21, 07 4:20 AM CST in Politics 

(Newser) – The former head of the CIA's clandestine service has been subpoenaed to testify about the destruction of  videotapes of the harsh interrogations of two al-Qaeda suspects. The subpoena for Jose Rodriguez was issued after the House Intelligence Committee staff studied documents on the interrogations that the CIA had surrendered to the panel. Rodriguez may seek immunity in exchange for his testimony.

President Bush was questioned yesterday about the tapes and appeared to acknowledge that disclosures about controversial interrogations could damage America's reputation. “I don’t want people to get the wrong impression of our country, but I’m not surprised we get criticized on a variety of fronts,” he said. The president stressed, however, that he only learned recently that the tapes had been destroyed.

Source New York Times

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Abu Zubaydah, one of the two al Qaeda suspects whose interrogation was shown on the destroyed tapes. He reportedly broke after a 35 second session of simulated drowning. (AP Photo/U.S. Central Command)   (Associated Press)
Jose Rodriguez, former head of the CIA's clandestine service. He has been subpoenaed to testify before the House Intelligence Committee about the destruction of videotapes of the interrogations of two...   (Associated Press)
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, second from left, and Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., ranking Republican, left. The committee subpoenaed the CIA's former top spy to testify...   (Associated Press)
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George W. Bush • al-Qaeda • CIA • Michael Hayden • Central Intelligence Agency • harsh interrogation • Abu Zubaydah • House Intelligence Committee • Abd al Rahim al-Nashiri


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