Rice Claims Ignorance Of CIA Tapes’ Destruction, Refuses To Comment On 2002 Interrogations
Rice Claims Ignorance Of CIA Tapes’ Destruction, Refuses To Comment On 2002 Interrogations
Today in a speech to the Women’s Foreign Policy Group, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice refused to answer what she knew about the interrogations that were videotaped in 2002, and then destroyed two years later. When moderator Andrea Mitchell asked Rice when she learned of the destruction of the tapes, Rice replied, “I myself don’t recollect any knowledge of the tapes.”
When asked about the 2002 interrogations, however, Rice was less forthcoming:
MITCHELL: Could we just ask, since the interrogations took place in 2002 when you were national security adviser, at the time were you aware — fully aware of the techniques being used and the videotape?
RICE: As I said, the Justice Department has now taken up this matter, and so I don’t think that it’s appropriate for me to comment further.
Watch it:
Rice is willing to publicly state that she had no knowledge of the tapes’ destruction in 2005, but won’t do the same on the 2002 interrogations.
In addition to Rice, at least five high-ranking administration officials and former officials have disavowed any knowledge of the tapes’ destruction. They have instead placed the blame on Jose Rodriguez, then the CIA’s head of the clandestine division. Former CIA officials, however, have described Rodriguez as “a cautious operator who probably would have ensured that top CIA managers knew of the plan” to destroy the torture tapes.
Transcript:
MITCHELL: To take it from the most topical things in the news today, can you tell us, now that we know there were people in the White House, in Congress, who urged the CIA not to destroy those videotapes — you were in the White House during that period — were you aware of it? And did you also urge that those tapes be preserved? And when were you aware of the fact that there were not preserved?
(LAUGHTER)
RICE: First of all, I think my take is that, well, this is an internal matter for the CIA.
I was secretary of state in 2005, indeed, and I can tell you that I myself don’t recollect any knowledge of the tapes.
But this is something that I’m sure that Mike Hayden, who is providing excellent leadership to the CIA, will resolve within their internal processes. The Justice Department is involved, and so I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment.
MITCHELL: Could we just ask, since the interrogations took place in 2002 when you were national security adviser, at the time were you aware — fully aware of the techniques being used and the videotape?
RICE: As I said, the Justice Department has now taken up this matter, and so I don’t think that it’s appropriate for me to comment further.
(LAUGHTER)
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86 Responses to “Rice Claims Ignorance Of CIA Tapes’ Destruction, Refuses To Comment On 2002 Interrogations”
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Rice, lying to protect her boyfriend again.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:13 pmnone of them care - they’ve got “the family” protecting them.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:14 pmSee no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil …all the while doing evil to the hilt.
Gotta love the Bushits.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:17 pmSarkozy cartoon
Rice cartoon
December 10th, 2007 at 5:17 pmbin laden determined to take condi to dinner.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:18 pmAnd I gotta say, in that screen cap, Condi looks exactly like the Church Lady. Isn’t that ….special?
December 10th, 2007 at 5:18 pmNever before have so many known so little about so much. Gee I’m glad harsh interrogation techniques are now the norm in this country, because we’re gonna need to break out the waterboards just to be able to write the history of this sad chapter of our country’s story.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:20 pmWatch me as I tapdance around the questions…. and yes, I am a paid employee of the people of the United States, but I only answer to my BFF, Dubya.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:20 pmCollective amnesia, that’s what they’re all suffering from.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:22 pmCaption contest:
Must….keeeep…….hands……folded….,,,..peeing…..my……undies…..
December 10th, 2007 at 5:25 pmWomen’s Foreign Policy Group
Annual Luncheon
Menu: Terrerist Baby, medium rare…
December 10th, 2007 at 5:27 pmShe was buying $1000 shoes that day, and doesn’t remember anything else.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:32 pmif Rodriguez really IS “a cautious operator”,
he would stand up and do the right thing…
that is, the CORRECT thing…
really… all of ‘em… come clean… NOW.
there is no “classified” when it comes to criminal activity.
if only nancy & co would’ve done the right thing” as soon as they
found out… the people would’ve backed them up all the way…
using the 08 election as an excuse for NOT doing so is degrading…
and depressing… i sure hope it doesn’t backfire on them…
December 10th, 2007 at 5:34 pm…
I am not sure what blog I stated something similar to “The time of pardons will be before GW Bush leaves office to virtually everyone at a high level that has worked in this Administration.” This is not the exact quote, but the intended meaning is the same. There is hardly ever a week goes by without some sort of “Alleged”, [ I like that word] law breaking by members of this Administration. The cutest part is when it “Alleged’ happened, no one knows anything, then when it is made public all of them cannot comment because it is being investigated. Wheee.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:40 pmThe evil just shines through in this woman.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:43 pmi should change “classifed” to “privilege”…
maybe… … maybe it should be BOTH…
December 10th, 2007 at 5:44 pmbut i know there has been criminal activity that needs to be prosecuted.
.
i hope the next prez gives his or her staff a memory test before they get appointed to the admins highest posts
December 10th, 2007 at 5:45 pmn addition to Rice, at least five high-ranking administration officials and former officials have disavowed any knowledge of the tapes’ destruction. They have instead placed the blame on Jose Rodriguez, then the CIA’s head of the clandestine division.]
I see a Preznitential Medal of Freedom in his future…..
Call me clairvouyant.
Cheers,
December 10th, 2007 at 5:46 pmFrom Real Clear Politics - A panel was convened to examine the success of aid programs to Africa:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ RCP_PDF/ Africa%20Transcript%20120407.pdf
Only 51% of those surveyed after the panel’s debate felt that existing aid programs to Africa should continue to be funded as they are.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:46 pmWhy are you so off topic today, Jason? Missing your Mask?
December 10th, 2007 at 5:49 pmComment by Jason M. Hendler — December 10, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
What the hell does that have to do with the subject at hand?
December 10th, 2007 at 5:49 pmRice is protecting herself right now. As the foreign press learned of her female soul mate from Israel and the fact that her other female lover is talking. Good to see Connie did admit she does have a female soul mate. Now as to what she knew about the tapes well Connie did know and if you remember Porter Goss was in charge which means no body but Dick Cheney was in charge. Goss quickly skipped out of the US with his male lover and now the junior person is left to fall on the sword for the Criminal White House. Will Jose Rodriguez do the same as Libby or will he be put out of the Christian Republican Club like Al Gonzales. I think Cheney might get curveball to make some fake documents to say Rodriguez is really an illegal immigrant and ship him out of the US. Look it could happen as the Media will report it, Journalist will support it and Americans believe what ever lie the White House says.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:50 pmWhat crime does this administration have to be guilty of in order to be made accountable? Oh yeah, lying about sexual indiscretion…
December 10th, 2007 at 6:01 pm“I don’t think that it’s appropriate for me to comment further.”
In other words - YOU’RE GUILTY OF TORTURE AND WAR CRIMES.
Bush/Cheney/Rice
Hague Trials ‘09
Buck Fush
December 10th, 2007 at 6:02 pmBreaking News - Nancy Pelosi among members who cheered on water-boarding and asked if technique was tough enough ….
December 10th, 2007 at 6:04 pmJose Rodriguez may be singing right now.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:05 pmComment by Jason M. Hendler — December 10, 2007 @ 6:04 pm
###
OREM, UT–(MARKET WIRE)–Dec 10, 2007 — Omniture, Inc. (NasdaqGM:OMTR - News), a leading provider of online business optimization software, today announced the appointment of Michael Look as vice president of investor relations. An experienced communications and investor relations executive, Look has more than 20 years of high-tech experience and has previously consulted Omniture through the company’s initial public offering in 2006. He was instrumental in developing and implementing a financial communications strategy aimed at enhancing the financial market’s understanding of Omniture’s business, technology and market opportunity.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:05 pmYou can calibrate your lie detector on what these crims say. When they claim “I can’t comment further” or “I don’t recall” - yep-a-roo - it’s a bold faced lie. They’re beginning to resemble mere cyphers of themselves - certainly they’ve all become a parody of their former self.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:07 pmQuite frankly, who gives a crap about what Pelsosi knew and when. The country wants to know what BushCheney knew and when, that’s what really matters…..unless Pelosi is running this country.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:08 pmIt’s apparent from the scowl on CondiCandi’s face that she wasn’t at all amused at being grilled by Mitchell - particularly on things which make her look complicit.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:09 pmThat IS the ‘I’m so pissed I can’t even show the gap in my teeth’ scowl, isn’t it.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:10 pmI’m shocked that Bush’s squeeze actually took time out from her trysting and shoe buying excursion to participate in this forum. Shocking!
December 10th, 2007 at 6:12 pmRU: That gap makes her look like Howdy Doody. When I see her all I can see is Howdy Doody in a wig. gross!
December 10th, 2007 at 6:13 pmVeritas, is she milking Clarabelle the Cow???
December 10th, 2007 at 6:15 pmOnly 51% of those surveyed after the panel’s debate felt that existing aid programs to Africa should continue to be funded as they are.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — December 10, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
So more than half? Sounds like democracy; no wonder you don’t like it, Jason Hitler.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:15 pmDoes ANYBODY at BushCo know ANY DAMN THING????
December 10th, 2007 at 6:16 pm#36 In a nutshell, nope!
Just read this: Evidently Pelosi et al (members of congress who were briefed somewhat about proposed terror techniques) were made to sign an agreement that they could not go public with this information. And guess who made them sign it?? Mr. Bushitco.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:19 pmAs for the destruction of the tapes, it’s also been reported that the CIA is pointing the finger for the destruction on an order directly from Bush. Come on….let’s get real: Of course, the order HAD to come from Bush himself; otherwise, it’s time to get this puppet off his throne and find someone who can really function as a leader.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:21 pmdon’t believe i’ve ever seen condi looks as tightly wrapped as she does in that photo. damn! looks like she’s trying to crack walnuts with her arse.
relax, condi!
December 10th, 2007 at 6:21 pmrelax!
RU: I don’t think Miss Priss would get her hands dirty enough or have the knowledge to milk anything but the american taxpayer, frankly. I think the caption would read: Imaginging herself to be Princess SummerFallWinterSpring, poor ugly Condi is cast in the role of Howdy Doody instead.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:22 pmHey, waitaminit! Condi is wearing a pants suit! Someone alert the media!
December 10th, 2007 at 6:23 pmtrying to crack walnuts with her arse.
Comment by LividLib — December 10, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
BWWWWAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHH!!!!!
December 10th, 2007 at 6:23 pmShe only wears pant suits when sticky fingers Chimp is not escorting her. Wonder why???
December 10th, 2007 at 6:24 pmThe way I see it there are only three of the original gang of thugs left: Condi, Cheney and Chimpy! Hey - that’s alliterative, too! Maybe they can take their act on the road. They’ve certainly provided enough comic relief these days to last us all a lifetime.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:26 pmClarabellle was a CLOWN on Howdy Doody. Clarabelle the Cow was disney. I just don’t want to give our right wing friends ammunition to attack the accuracy of this thread.
On Topic….were there print transcripts of the material on these tapes that hasn’t been in a shreader?
December 10th, 2007 at 6:27 pmThe “I CAN’T RECALL”, or ” I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION” is becoming the Poker “tell” of the entire Bush party.
Translated it means “YES I KNEW THAT INFORMATION, SO I HAVE TO LEAGLY SAY I DON’T RECALL”….
Otherwise they would just deny it outright.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:29 pmVeritas, how about Chymp as Howdy Doody, Cheney as Phineas T. Bluster and Condi as Clarabelle the Clown (not cow!) Or maybe Condi as Howdy and the chymp as Clarabelle or even Dilly Dally…
December 10th, 2007 at 6:29 pmThanks Badger, I knew I had something horsed up there!
December 10th, 2007 at 6:29 pmtrying to crack walnuts with her arse.
Comment by LividLib
(black walnuts…)
December 10th, 2007 at 6:30 pmBTW, Clarabelle was played by Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo)!!!
December 10th, 2007 at 6:30 pmBe nice, Raven!
December 10th, 2007 at 6:31 pmThe patented BushitCo teleprompter:
I don’t recall
I have no recollection
Since the Justice Department has now taken up this matter, and so I don’t think that it’s appropriate for me to comment further.
(aside) Does it look like I’m lying??
1-800 - URFACKD
December 10th, 2007 at 6:33 pmEnglish walnuts are just too easy, remember her trans-Atlantic flight with Jack Straw?
December 10th, 2007 at 6:34 pmhe he…
Next weekend I’m making sugared walnuts, so please, please stop with the walnut jokes, or I won’t be able to do them without visualizing them popping out of her ass!
December 10th, 2007 at 6:38 pmWith any luck, we’ll have a future where children will ask; “what’s a neocon”?
And any surviving member of Bushco, or their ilk, will answer; “I don’t remember”. It seems that they believe that’s the “honorable” way out.
It’s their pathological inability to take responsibility, for anything, that makes them so hard to nail down. With any luck, someone will come up with the “lost” documents and the whole net will unravel. But, it’s not going to happen until someone breaks ranks and produces signatures.
“I don’t recall” doesn’t explain, signed, official documents. And some people undoubtedly have damaging info sashed away in case they get thrown under a bus; without their promised pay off. If nothing else, these people are the types who hold grudges.
We can count on the smaller fish to turn on each other trying to save their positions of influence. I wish they would hurry up and get on with it. It seems inevitable.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:43 pmGotcha… I found an old box of prunes in the cupboard I’m going to make sugar plums with….. bon apetit!
December 10th, 2007 at 6:43 pmWould be a fitting punishment for the next administration puke who says anything to the tune of don’t remember, can’t recall, to spend a day in Cheney’s man size safe.
With a large pack of hungry rats.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:45 pmJose Rodriguez is about to become a ver rich man when he is paid by the Bush administration to keep his mouth shut.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:50 pmRice is not lying here. If she were a liberal, you wouldn’t care…shows your true prejudice!
December 10th, 2007 at 7:07 pmwe’ve covered most of the RW WH talking points already JP, so you’re really just being a rerun.
December 10th, 2007 at 7:09 pmAnd did you also urge that those tapes be preserved? And when were you aware of the fact that there were not preserved?
(LAUGHTER)
RICE: As I said, the Justice Department has now taken up this matter, and so I don’t think that it’s appropriate for me to comment further.
(LAUGHTER)
These two “laughters” tell the whole story! The people listening to her, knew she was screwed by the question and laughed. And then they called her answer “a bullshit evasion” by the second laughter which they saw coming in advance.
The stench of desperation oozes from the whole BushCo lot. The smell permeates through to all those neocon, AEI mouthpieces as well as deeply into the republic presidential candidates who are desperately holding on to the “Bush Legacy” as if it will help them win the “coveted crown” that Bush will pass on.
Yes, to my ears and nose everything I hear and see from the right, (even our beloved trolls,) smells of desperation. As things don’t work, they keep going farther and farther out on the limb. Their bodies are tense and tight and their words or responses more and more defensive or antagonistic. And the more rediculous they appear.
The implosion of the republic party is in full swing now. The election of 2008 is going to be a devastating blow to the future of the “opposition.” Mark my words, trolls, your party is going to be blown apart!
December 10th, 2007 at 7:23 pmTombaker…ha ha…the typical response! You’ve also covered the LW taking points quite well too…congratulations! And thank you for voicing your opinion! Now that we have got that settled, lets have some truthful debate!
December 10th, 2007 at 7:24 pmNow that we have got that settled, lets have some truthful debate!
Comment by JPisHere
Aha! There you are!
December 10th, 2007 at 7:26 pmCondi is really a rather attractive woman… when you don’t know who she is, and what her ethics and morals really are. Once that info is known she turns as ugly as sin.
December 10th, 2007 at 7:30 pm“Who could have imagined” that Condi would “not recall”.
December 10th, 2007 at 7:31 pm“I myself don’t recollect any knowledge of the tapes.â€
What a train-wreck of a sentence. “I myself”??? Sounds like she’s trying to convince herself she didn’t know anything about the tapes. Almost as if she has a flicker of conscience that popped up unexpectedly and escaped through her mouth. Could it be any more evident that this is a lie?
December 10th, 2007 at 7:33 pm“I myself don’t recollect” = Republiscum plausible deniability. If I don’t recollect, then I must not have known.
Give me a break. All the Bush Crime Family knew what was going on. They were the ones who ordered the destruction of the tapes. They have ordered the destruction of any record that would end up putting them in jail.
What I don’t understand is why the public isn’t howling about all this. First they can’t find the logs of visitors to the Whitehouse, then they destroy them and then they stop keeping them. Next they “lost” millions of e-mails that undoubtedly contained their misdeeds. And now they destroy tapes of torture. How much more are the sheeple going to take before they storm the bastions of the Whitehouse and take back our country?
December 10th, 2007 at 7:39 pmThere are only so many word combinations to say “I don’t recall”, after awhile they just become more absurd and cumbersome.
December 10th, 2007 at 7:40 pm#62 Comment by JPisHere — December 10, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
Now that we have got that settled, lets have some truthful debate!
There is no point in debating with conservatives, neocons, or BushCo enablers. They all spout talking points that are not democratic. Their intent is to push for an aristocracy which comes in hyerarchical form, with them at the top and all the rest of us at the bottom, to be used and abused by them.
And regarding “truthful”. You, a BushCo enabler???
BwaaaaHaaaaHaaaa
You enablers don’t know the meaning of the word.
But do come back after the blowout election of 2008, and provide some comic relief by repeating the crap you spew today.
December 10th, 2007 at 7:44 pmJP merits nothing more than being ignored, Merlin. It will only encourage him.
December 10th, 2007 at 7:47 pm#68 Comment by Nevar — December 10, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
There are only so many word combinations to say “I don’t recallâ€, after awhile they just become more absurd and cumbersome.
There is that smell of desperation I was talking about in #61. The really neat thing is that they really know how bad it is, all the while keeping “the upper lip stiff” as the British would say. What they don’t yet realize is how bad they really look while doing their deniability trip.
December 10th, 2007 at 7:50 pm“Rice Claims Ignorance”: It’s about time. She is ignorant, about everything. Another traitor I’d like to see swinging from a rope as punishment for her treason.
December 10th, 2007 at 7:54 pmThis posted on the DailyKos, check it out.
CIA torturer incriminates self during interview with ABC
by calipygian
Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:32:34 PM PST
No wonder Condi is backing away from the torture deal. The whole mess is unravelling rapidly. This guy was the “head dude” in charge of waterboarding “the first major al Qaeda figure, Abu Zubaydah”.
December 10th, 2007 at 8:19 pmMerlin…why are you so scared to debate others that have a different point of view??? All you do is claim that I spew talking points when you do the same, just on the other side!
tombaker…can’t handle defending your positions??? Amusing.
December 10th, 2007 at 8:35 pmdefend them from what? who? you?
’tis to laugh.
December 10th, 2007 at 8:36 pmtombaker…once again…avoidance…
December 10th, 2007 at 8:41 pmif you think there’s a “debate” to be had on whether torture is wrong, and whether covering up evidence of crimes is wrong, then, no I really don’t have any of that kind of “debate” to offer you. Do you not get that?
December 10th, 2007 at 8:42 pmi usually do try to avoid wasting my time having fake debates with fake independents who think they’re on a mission to make some lefties look bad. those are some messed up priorities for a person, yet there’s always a supply of people just like you doing exactly that.
December 10th, 2007 at 8:43 pmhttp://www.cbsnews.com/ stories/ 2007/ 12/ 10/ eveningnews/ main3604018.shtml
FTA: Former CIA officer John Kiriakou led the raid, which captured the al Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah, told CBS News he and at least one other CIA officer refused to use the harsh interrogation techniques.
That job, he said, was turned over to retired commandos under contract to the CIA.
Who are these “retired commandos”? Blackwater, hmmm?
No wonder Rice won’t comment.
December 10th, 2007 at 8:50 pmtombaker…again…avoiding the issues and now I am an independent who is on a mission to make lefties look bad. If your positions are correct, then how am I making you look bad by voicing dissention? Or is it that your positions are wrong???
December 10th, 2007 at 8:53 pmy- u win JP
December 10th, 2007 at 8:55 pmComment by tombaker — December 10, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
JP merits nothing more than being ignored, Merlin. It will only encourage him.
Well, tom, sometimes when the troll hangs around and says really silly things, the urge to have fun overwhems my sense of reason. Having fun with trolls is their only redeeming feature, after all.
And BTW, your responses #77 and #78 said some important things that the general readership of lookie loos can benefit from. That audience is many times greater than the number of those of us who post here.
So, in retrospect, it depends on the type of response one gives. It is not always a bad thing to respond to a troll. The caviat is that you need to be aware of what you are doing. For instance, I will not respond to the trolls #74. To do so would be non productive.
December 10th, 2007 at 9:07 pmi’m guilty of the same thing Merlin. we’re agreed.
December 10th, 2007 at 9:14 pmshouldn’t george tenet or michael hayden be getting grilled on these tapes?
December 10th, 2007 at 10:37 pmmaybe she is right - the cia reports directly to the prez and not the nsa via the director of central intelligence right?
THE REPITILE RICE IS A WAR CRIMINAL! HAGE 09!!!!! JOSE RODRIGES WILL TAKE THE FALL AND BUSH WILL PARDON HIM… IF NOTHING CHANGES IN AMERICA… RICE, YOU ARE A REPITILE WAR CRIMINAL! A LIER! PEOPLE ARE DEAD BECAUSE YOU LIED! WAR CRIMINAL!
December 11th, 2007 at 2:02 amPerhaps water boarding should now become an Olympic sport.
December 11th, 2007 at 7:02 am