If what they did wasn't torture and was "legal" why did they hide what they were doing?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24867-2004Jun8.html

Ashcroft Refuses to Release '02 Memo

Document Details Suffering Allowed In Interrogations

By Susan Schmidt
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 9, 2004; Page A01


Attorney General John D. Ashcroft told Congress yesterday that he would not release a 2002 policy memo on the degree of pain and suffering legally permitted during enemy interrogations, but said he knows of no presidential order that would allow al Qaeda suspects to be tortured by U.S. personnel.

Angry Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee called on Ashcroft to provide the document. They said portions that have appeared in news reports suggest the Bush administration is reinterpreting U.S. law and the Geneva Conventions prohibiting torture.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said the memo on interrogation techniques permissible for the CIA to use on suspected al Qaeda operatives "appears to be an effort to redefine torture and narrow prohibitions against it." The document was prepared by the Justice Department's office of legal counsel for the CIA and addressed to White House counsel Alberto R. Gonzales.

The 50-page Justice Department memo said inflicting physical or psychological pain might be justified in the war on terrorism "to prevent further attacks on the United States by the al Qaeda terrorist network." It added that "necessity and self defense could provide justifications that would eliminate any criminal liability."

[librechik]

1. can't let the terr'ists know what super secret techniques we are using

cuz then they could use their magical powers to protect themselves from them

:eyes:

[Toucano]

6. Right. The enemy is Borg and will adapt to any information they get

about how we get information.

Jeesh!

[monmouth]

2. And why is Cheney getting the vapors over it???.......n/t

[JuniperLea]

3. Maybe he's getting all bent to show how sincere he is...

Knowing full well there will be obstacles and he can say, aw shucks, can't release them, security you know.

[ColbertWatcher]

4. Excellent question and one that should be asked by everyone with a TV show. k+r, n/t

[stillcool]

5. Isn't that what they did with Iran/Contra...

do something illegal and then go to the President to gin up a legal finding that makes what was illegal, legal? All the time providing those with the clout plausible deniability.