Videotaping Detainee Interrogations Pushed For By Congress

New York Times:

Congress is moving to require videotaping of interrogations of detainees held by the military, a step proponents say will prevent abuse and create a valuable intelligence record.

The provision, which the House passed on Thursday as part of the 2010 Defense Authorization Act conference report, would apply to interrogations of anyone held at a Defense Department facility. Because the Central Intelligence Agency's secret overseas prisons have been closed, it would most likely cover terrorism suspects whether they were questioned by a military or a C.I.A. officer.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[northstar11]

""""""Because the Central Intelligence Agency's secret overseas prisons have been closed,""""""

does that mean they dont rent from ,say blackwater, or pay of a third party to do the deed at arms length?

it sounds like they are clean --but who knows/

[IDIOTA]

I am unhappy with the Obama Administration which refuses to shine light on the extensive and systematic use of torture under the auspices or direction of the American government.

There were no rogue elements in the torture regime, unless a rogue is one who refused to participate.

[blaharumph]

you mean not destroying the tapes? ugh.

[LeeCalif]

Interrogations HAVE ALREADY BEEN VIDEOTAPED but the CIA keeps destroying the tapes.

Once again, the NYTimes is playing pretend and trying a Republican re-write of history.

NYTimes, you are so boorish.

[zgore]

Why haven't these detainees been executed yet?

[redhead61]

Because GWB is no longer President

[northstar11]

because all the evidence gathered as a result of torture became invalid ---so you can thank dick cheney--

and some may actually not be guilty of any crime ----just like john lind

[blaharumph]

speaking of john lindh... i had no idea of the proper chain of events until i saw this interview:

amy goodman and lindh's parents:

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/7/31/exclusive_john_walker_lindhs_parents_discuss

[WeMustSpeakOut]

Novel idea. How about some legislation to prevent destruction of the tapes as well??

[redhead61]

Just what I was going to post...saw yours and now I dont have to :O)

Indeed I agree. This has been done before...so not sure if Congress 'gets it' that there should be consequences for allowing interrogators to destroy the evidence that perhaps they broke the law in some of these interrogations. Worse that there were deaths in interrogations and video tape proves there were illegal tactics used during interrogation to lead to those deaths.

[jsgaetano]

Are they also going to take away the CIA's right to destroy the tapes if anything on them is incriminating?

[shryock]

congress should really require live video 24/7 given the history.
and the american people should be required to watch.

[ESerafina42]

Yeah - what good does this do if they can then destroy the videotapes with impunity.

[Stuzzadelic]

They did that before when Bush and Cheney were in power...except the tapes were destroyed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29464930/

[Grunty1]

Personally, I cannot believe this isn't already a requirement.

[Marcospinelli]

Joe Lieberman successfully inserted into the Homeland Security appropriations bill an amendment -- supported by the Obama White House -- to provide an exemption from the Freedom of Information Act's mandates by authorizing the Defense Secretary to suppress long-concealed photographs of detainee abuse. Two courts had ruled -- unanimously -- that the American people have the right to see these photographs under FOIA, a 40-year-old law championed by the Democrats in the LBJ era and long considered a crowning jewel in their legislative achievements. But this Lieberman amendment, which is now likely to pass, undermines all of that and - its central purpose is to "legalize suppression" of evidence of American war crimes.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/10/08/photos/index.html

[redhead61]

Fox guarding the hen house.

[IDIOTA]

This is a must read.