Destruction of Evidence

From the New York Times:

The Central Intelligence Agency in 2005 destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the interrogation of two Al Qaeda operatives in the agency’s custody, a step it took in the midst of Congressional and legal scrutiny about the C.I.A’s secret detention program, according to current and former government officials.

The videotapes showed agency operatives in 2002 subjecting terror suspects — including Abu Zubaydah, the first detainee in C.I.A. custody — to severe interrogation techniques. They were destroyed in part because officers were concerned that tapes documenting controversial interrogation methods could expose agency officials to greater risk of legal jeopardy, several officials said.

But remember, President Bush says we don't torture, so there should be no evidence that we did in the first place, right? So why did they destroy the tapes? Did they find out that the tapes weren't documenting "severe interrogation" of Al-Qaeda suspects but were really bootleg copies of the Star Wars Holiday Special guest-starring Harvey Korman and Bea Arthur?

The article goes on to say that this may reignite the debate in Congress over the interrogation methods used on "enemy combatants" and whether or not the CIA withheld information from the 9/11 Commission and Congress. One can only hope.

Cross-posted from Bark Bark Woof Woof.