The Library Tower in Los Angeles - CIA interrogation may have saved it

pbs.org ^ | 2006

[doug from upland]

First Interstate World Center (Library Tower)

Vital Statistics:
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Completion Date: 1990
Cost: $350 million
Height: 1,018 feet
Stories: 75
Materials: Concrete, steel
Facing Materials: Granite, glass
Engineer(s): CBM Engineers

The First Interstate World Center exists today for one reason: its neighbor, the Los Angeles Central Library, found itself in deep trouble. Ravaged by fire in 1986, the library was one step away from the wrecking ball when an urban development team stepped in. The team bought the ailing structure, restoring the library and building a 75-story skyscraper adjacent to it.

Originally called the Library Tower, the name soon changed when First Interstate Bancorp negotiated to occupy a portion of the building in 1990 in exchange for having it renamed. Just six years later, the skyscraper reverted to its former name when First Interstate Bancorp was taken over by another local bank.

Located just 26 miles from the San Andreas Fault, the skyscraper was built to withstand the "Big One," an earthquake the magnitude of 8.3 or bigger on the Richter scale. The skyscraper's massively reinforced central core and lighter perimeter columns form a framework flexible enough to resist violent side-to-side shaking, but stiff enough to resist the enormous wind forces that affect high-rise buildings.

[Cindy]

OPINION: I'll scratch "may have" and insert "DID," in my opinion.

Of course, there may have been other informants, but I'll never know
unless more info becomes public.

[Dajjal]

"domestic surveillance" bump

[cardinal4]

Am I missing something? What did the CIA do?

[MinorityRepublican]

Huh?

[doug from upland]

Whoops, I posted this last night and did not add this.

CLICK FOR STORY, INCLUDING VIDEO

Bombshell: ABC independently confirms success of CIA “torture” tacticsposted at 9:15 pm on September 20, 2006 by Allahpundit

Send to a Friend | printer-friendly Ace e-mailed me the instant this finished airing on O’Reilly with the subject header “must record”. He was right, as you’ll see. Anti-”torture” absolutists like Sullivan adamantly deny that harsh tactics produce reliable information. It’s their way of avoiding the moral dilemma presented by a ticking time-bomb scenario. But they’ll have to face it now, because in four short minutes Brian Ross utterly explodes that particular article of quasi-religious faith as fantasy. Not only did they break Khaled Sheikh Mohammed; not only was the information he gave them valuable; not only did it save lives; but Ross’s sources include people within the CIA who are opposed to the practices.

The best part, though? Learning that Ramzi Binalshibh cried like a three-year-old girl.

Hard decision time for St. John of Tucson. Choose carefully, Senator.

[april15Bendovr]

Is there a pool in that building we can water-board all the Democrats?

[dirtboy]

Waterboarding doesn't work on Democrats. Ted the Swimmer proved that long ago.

[april15Bendovr]

The sad thing is Democrats don't need to be tortured to give away classified information. They are willing participants along with their friends at the NY Times.

[wastedyears]

There has to be a loophole, besides mercenaries...

[doug from upland]

I agree.

[JSteff]

"Am I missing something? What did the CIA do?"

Shhh.. If you know they will have to torture you with underwear on your head and a leash around your neck while you are in a human pyramid with 10 other naked Bush administration terrorist spies.

[JSteff]

"Waterboarding doesn't work on Democrats. Ted the Swimmer proved that long ago."

Yeah, that just kills innocent campaign workers/interns along for the ride.