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October 11, 2008 11:21:15 PM CDT

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CIA Tapes Were Made—and Destroyed—for PR

Posted Dec 30, 07 1:30 PM CST in US 

(Newser) – Concern over its image prompted the CIA to first secretly create—and later destroy—tapes depicting the harsh interrogation of detainees, the New York Times reports. In spring 2002 the agency decided to document every moment of senior al-Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah's custody so that perceptions of mistreatment—by prosecutors, Congress, Americans, and Muslims worldwide—could be countered.

But only months later the taping stopped, as interrogations of prisoners grew ever rougher, eventually including the practice of waterboarding, the Times says. By 2004, after the Abu Ghraib scandal, the tapes began to be seen by elements in the CIA’s clandestine services as a serious threat to the agency’s reputation—and the safety of agents.

Source New York Times

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This undated handout photo provided by the CIA shows Jose Rodriguez. Former head of the Clandestine Services division, who ordered the destruction of the interrogation tapes. (AP Photo/CIA)   (Associated Press)
CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden stops to speak to the media on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007, upon his arrival for a closed-door hearing of the House Select Intelligence Oversight...   (Associated Press)
CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007, following a closed-door meeting with the House Intelligence Committee on the issue of destroyed...   (Associated Press)
Justice Department attorney Joseph Hunt, right, who presented the government's case regarding the destruction of CIA interrogation tapes, and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Carl Nichols, left, leave...   (Associated Press)
CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden, right, prepares to speak with members of the media on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 11,2007, following a closed-door briefing before the Senate Intelligence...   (Associated Press)
Senate Intelligence Committee staff member Jim Wolfe brings in briefing books for a closed-door briefing with Central Intelligence Director Gen. Michael Hayden before the committee, on the destroyed CIA...   (Associated Press)
Central Intelligence Agency Director Gen. Michael Hayden walks past a protestor, left, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007, upon his arrival for a closed-door briefing before the Senate...   (Associated Press)
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al-Qaeda  • CIA  • torture  • waterboarding  • interrogation techniques  • Abu Ghraib  • Central Intelligence Agency  • CIA videotapes  • Abu Zubaydah  • interrogations


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