Obama Weighs Airing CIA Tactics

Wall Street Journal ^

[Sub-Driver]

Obama Weighs Airing CIA Tactics Top Officials at Odds Over Whether to Withhold Some Details in Interrogation Memos

By EVAN PEREZ and SIOBHAN GORMAN

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is leaning toward keeping secret some graphic details of tactics allowed in Central Intelligence Agency interrogations, despite a push by some top officials to make the information public, according to people familiar with the discussions.

These people cautioned that President Barack Obama is still reviewing internal arguments over the release of Justice Department memorandums related to CIA interrogations, and how much information will be made public is in flux.

Among the details in the still-classified memos is approval for a technique in which a prisoner's head could be struck against a wall as long as the head was being held and the force of the blow was controlled by the interrogator, according to people familiar with the memos. Another approved tactic was waterboarding, or simulated drowning.

A decision to keep secret key parts of the three 2005 memos outlining legal guidance on CIA interrogations would anger some Obama supporters who have pushed him to unveil now-abandoned Bush-era tactics. It would also go against the views of Attorney General Eric Holder and White House Counsel Greg Craig, people familiar with the matter said.

Top CIA officials have spoken out strongly against a full release, saying it would undermine the agency's credibility with foreign intelligence services and hurt the agency's work force, people involved in the discussions said. However, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair favors releasing the information, a senior administration official said.

[Sub-Driver]

I'll be right back after i get done screaming in the backyard....

[elpadre]

why is releasing the information so important to them?

Are they not aware that we are in an ongoing war that may well last for a generation??

The less the enemy knows, the better for our people - our nation!!

[Sub-Driver]

red meat to the base?

[muawiyah]

We've really gotta' get back control of the government so we can try Obamistas like Craig and Holder for treason.

That' what those pukes ought to have on their minds ~ a big fat noose at the end of their terms.

[FoxInSocks]

Are they not aware that we are in an ongoing war that may well last for a generation??

War? What war? Are you referring to the overseas contingency operation?

[unkus]

I don’t know what to say anymore. If I said some of what I think, I’d have the door knocked down in about 5 minutes.

[Mikey_1962]

Top CIA officials have spoken out strongly against a full release, saying it would undermine the agency's credibility with foreign intelligence services and hurt the agency's work force, people involved in the discussions said.

Gosh, They are begining to understand, elections have consequences, and consequences are the natural result of risky behavior.

[UCANSEE2]

Be careful not to violate the Community Decibel Limit.

[A. Morgan]

Zero is a A GREAT BIG ZERO! Buy a CLUE, Zero!

[UCANSEE2]

Top CIA officials have spoken out strongly against a full release, saying it would undermine the agency's credibility with foreign intelligence services and hurt the agency's work force, people involved in the discussions said.

Gee, wonder what Valerie Plame thinks?

[colorado tanker]

Looks like these a-holes are headed for another Church Committee style attack on the CIA. That crippled us for years.

[BuffaloJack]

> I’ll be right back after i get done screaming in the backyard....
I’ll be right beside you drowning you out ...

[Sprite518]

Everyday the news just gets worst. Just think it has been less than 100 days. I cannot imagine where we will be in 4 years.

[Interesting Times]

Are they not aware that we are in an ongoing war that may well last for a generation??

Their war is with American conservatives, not Islamic radicals.

[airborne]

I’m sure the folks who do the “dirty work” at the CIA will be thrilled with this!

Obama is looking for trouble, IMO.

[BuffaloJack]

Gee, why not just require CIA agents to wear tee-shirts with CIA on the back in 8” letters.

[synbad600]

God help me for saying this but I hope the people who want this released get their comeuppance, one way or another. Preferably through terrorism.

[prismsinc]

Uh, Treason, Impeachment...

[UCANSEE2]

Thanks for posting the article.

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“despite a push by some top officials to make the information public”

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Who are the ‘top officials’ who want to do this????

[Cheetahcat]

"Despite a push"?? Who the hell is going to help the CIA if they get their Name ,Picture.and address in the New York Times the very next day. Great move Zippy.