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| CIA boss faces tape interrogation | CIA boss faces tape interrogation |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The head of the CIA is due to testify to two key congressional intelligence committees, after it emerged tapes of two interrogations had been destroyed. | The head of the CIA is due to testify to two key congressional intelligence committees, after it emerged tapes of two interrogations had been destroyed. |
| General Michael Hayden will face questioning amid ongoing concern at why the tapes were wiped in 2005. Some have suggested a possible torture cover-up. | General Michael Hayden will face questioning amid ongoing concern at why the tapes were wiped in 2005. Some have suggested a possible torture cover-up. |
| The CIA and the US justice department are investigating the tape destruction. | The CIA and the US justice department are investigating the tape destruction. |
| Meanwhile, an ex-CIA agent defended the use of "water-boarding", a technique that critics say amounts to torture. | Meanwhile, an ex-CIA agent defended the use of "water-boarding", a technique that critics say amounts to torture. |
| Speaking to ABC News, John Kiriakou said the technique, which simulates drowning, helped "break" a key al-Qaeda suspect. | Speaking to ABC News, John Kiriakou said the technique, which simulates drowning, helped "break" a key al-Qaeda suspect. |
| The suspect, Abu Zubaydah, was said to be one of the men questioned in the deleted footage. | The suspect, Abu Zubaydah, was said to be one of the men questioned in the deleted footage. |
| A Palestinian, he was captured in Pakistan in 2002 and sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. | A Palestinian, he was captured in Pakistan in 2002 and sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. |
| Mr Kiriakou said the day after water-boarding was used on Abu Zubaydah, the detainee told his interrogator that Allah had visited him in his cell during the night and told him to co-operate. | Mr Kiriakou said the day after water-boarding was used on Abu Zubaydah, the detainee told his interrogator that Allah had visited him in his cell during the night and told him to co-operate. |
| "From that day on, he answered every question," the retired agent said. | "From that day on, he answered every question," the retired agent said. |
| Cover-up? | Cover-up? |
| The interrogation tapes were both made and destroyed before Gen Hayden was appointed director of the CIA in 2006. | The interrogation tapes were both made and destroyed before Gen Hayden was appointed director of the CIA in 2006. |
| WATER-BOARDING Prisoner bound to a board with feet raised, and cellophane wrapped round head. Water is poured onto face and is said to produce a fear of drowning Water-boarding scrutinisedCIA boss faces credibility test class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3922&edition=1">Send us your comments But the director has come under pressure to explain the agency's decision to destroy the tapes. | |
| Correspondents say there are suspicions that the decision was made to conceal evidence that terror suspects were being tortured in order to extract vital intelligence. | Correspondents say there are suspicions that the decision was made to conceal evidence that terror suspects were being tortured in order to extract vital intelligence. |
| Gen Hayden has defended the decision, saying it was "done in line with the law". | Gen Hayden has defended the decision, saying it was "done in line with the law". |
| The CIA says it destroyed the tapes to protect the identity of its agents. | The CIA says it destroyed the tapes to protect the identity of its agents. |
| But Democrats have accused the agency of a cover-up to hide evidence of possible detainee torture. | But Democrats have accused the agency of a cover-up to hide evidence of possible detainee torture. |
| Struggle | Struggle |
| Speaking on Monday, Mr Kiriakou told ABC News he had wrestled with the moral implications of using so-called "enhanced techniques" on prisoners. | Speaking on Monday, Mr Kiriakou told ABC News he had wrestled with the moral implications of using so-called "enhanced techniques" on prisoners. |
| John Kiriakou said he had changed his views in the years since 9/11"Like a lot of Americans, I'm involved in this internal, intellectual battle with myself - weighing the idea that water-boarding may be torture, versus the quality of information that we often get after using the water-boarding technique," he said. | John Kiriakou said he had changed his views in the years since 9/11"Like a lot of Americans, I'm involved in this internal, intellectual battle with myself - weighing the idea that water-boarding may be torture, versus the quality of information that we often get after using the water-boarding technique," he said. |
| "And I struggle with it." | "And I struggle with it." |
| But on Tuesday he shifted responsibility from the CIA to the White House, saying the decision to use certain interrogation techniques did not rest with people like him. | But on Tuesday he shifted responsibility from the CIA to the White House, saying the decision to use certain interrogation techniques did not rest with people like him. |
| "This was a policy made at the White House, with concurrence from the National Security Council and justice department," he told NBC TV. | "This was a policy made at the White House, with concurrence from the National Security Council and justice department," he told NBC TV. |
| Human rights groups say that water-boarding - and other techniques allegedly used by the CIA - can be defined as torture under various international treaties to which the US is a signatory. | Human rights groups say that water-boarding - and other techniques allegedly used by the CIA - can be defined as torture under various international treaties to which the US is a signatory. |
| The administration of US President George W Bush has always maintained it does not allow the use of torture. | The administration of US President George W Bush has always maintained it does not allow the use of torture. |