Condoleezza Rice "Verbally Approved" CIA Waterboard Request

Former national security adviser and secretary of state Condoleezza Rice "verbally approved" the "earliest known request" by the Central Intelligence Agency  to torture and waterboard detainees, reports the Associated Press, which contradicts her own testimony.

As national security adviser to former President George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice verbally approved the CIA's request to subject alleged al-Qaida terrorist Abu Zubaydah to waterboarding in July 2002, the earliest known decision by a Bush administration official to OK use of the simulated drowning technique.

Rice's role was detailed in a narrative released Wednesday by the Senate Intelligence Committee. It provides the most detailed timeline yet for how the CIA's harsh interrogation program was conceived and approved at the highest levels in the Bush White House.

Last fall, Rice acknowledged to the Senate Armed Services Committee only that she had attended meetings where the CIA interrogation request was discussed and asked for the attorney general to conduct a legal review. She said she did not recall details. Rice omitted her direct role in approving the program in her written statement to the committee.

The revelations come on the same day Attorney General Eric Holder announces "no one is above the law" and weighs potential prosecutions of Bush officials who authorized harsh interrogation techniques.

Holder's claim is lofty—and fwiw, Rice should not be a candidate for investigation, depite obviously lying to the Armed Services Committee—but it will be interesting to see if which if any CIA officials or interrogators are investigated. It is very interesting that CIA's Acting General Counsel John Rizzo was one of the architects of the Bush Administration's "enhanced interrogation" program. Yet Rizzo remains general counsel of Central Intelligence.

Comments

[gurlene]

Even though I personally don't care for her pic-a-ninny style GOP politics I would not go along with her prosecution by Holder.

The Washington Blade ran a story on how Condoleeza WAS asked by the McCain campaign to run as his vice-president and it was McCain's campaign that retracted it after allegations that she and another woman purchased a home together to live in out in Calif after leaving office proved true.

She tried to hide it but this is presidential politics and they found out. It WAS another woman she DID buy the home with.

Girl (Condoleeza) also has had a few flings with women in hotels while she was in office. One was with a running buddy of Martina Navratalova.

I 'kinda' felt sorry for her because I knew what she was going through but at the same time when you ask to play with the big boys you, not them, can come out to be the overall loser. Her political career is over for the most part and I think it cruel to single her out for prosecution.

[Raheem]

not very surprising condoleezza rice lied under oath. is really very sad if anything.

i'm also not interested in seeing her proscuted but would like some of the cia torturers ordered to stop, i also want to see a truth commission.

[Mike]

This whole post is funny. I didn't know what 'waterboarding' was till now. I also didn't know Leeza was or is Gay hehe that explains a lot.

[Luther]

If she is one of those who authorized the torture, I say prosecute her and all those involved.

As for her being 'family' I though everybody and his mother knew this since it has been talked about for years now, but, then again, maybe thought she was telling the truth when she uttered GW Bush was the most intelligent man she has ever met and she just adored him, ick, on so man levels.

[Dave]

This whole situation makes me wonder if this is why Colin Powell jumped ship...

[soulbrotha]

I can't stand Condi. HOWEVER, it should be all or nothing; either EVERYONE involved is prosecuted, or NO ONE is. No "cherry picking." But it looks like she is about to get set up as the scapegoat.

[Rowan]

Poor Candi, talk about being set up! Damn, she thought she was a powerful black woman...but sweetie..see how Powell jumped ship!