Good for McCain for not backing down and attacking the Bush administration's horrible human rights record.

It does seems highly suspcious and troubling that the tapes were destroyed.

Obviously they have a lot to hide.

Although I rarely agree McCain's views I do have a lot of respect for him to challenge Bush and make a stand to protest the use of torture by our government.

Just one comment. Bill Richardson is Governor of New Mexico, not a Senator.

McCain gave Bush a pass like everyone else in government. They're all full of rhetoric with little to no action.

I have to be critical of Republicans here because Bush is in their party. McCain said,

"I don't think they should have destroyed those tapes and it will harm the credibility of the CIA in my view, and I wish they had listened to members of Congress who said they should not do so," McCain told reporters after a New Hampshire campaign event, but "as far as I know, they didn't break any laws.

So, basically, they did it, but we can't do anything about it so no big deal. This is the same guy that so adamantly opposes waterboarding.

Why do we pay these people the money they make? So they can talk big and do nothing? Oh, I forgot, they decide how much we pay them…. disgusting.

Wallace

The answer is this, you water board the head of the CIA, you water board Mr Bush, they don't think its torture, they both said it is a legit tactic for questioning. If they destroyed evidence, prison time is required by law. But a wimp like Pelosi is going to squeak and squirm out of her responsibillity. How much money was spent by the GOP to investigate Clinton's personal life ? This is a matter of torture and war crime.

The first 3 comments are good. Destruction of evidence and missing records that have been sought by a legally empowered body deserve serious jail time. If tapes on torture are missing, quick check the DVD in Chaney's bedroom. He likely watches them over and over for kicks late at night over a bottle of Black and Red.

Sounds like Bush is trying to avoid The Hague in the Netherlands.

I'm not a Republican, so I don't get a vote. But if they don't nominate this guy they are passing up the best of a bad lot. They've only got a slim chance to hold onto the White House, and his name is McCain.

Bill Richardson said "That these tapes existed is reprehensible. That they were destroyed is outrageous…."

Which is it Bill, should the tapes have existed or not? This is just another fake and politically motivated "scandal." If the tapes no longer served an intelligence purpose it was best to destroy them to prevent them from being leaked.

CNN posted:
New Mexico Sen. Bill Richardson directed most of his criticism at the White House.

Bill Richardson is Governor of New Mexico, and not one of the state's senators.

Why are they so afraid to go forward with what every American feels is right– IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY!!!

We are now into the waning years of this administration, and I am not anymore surprised by the lengths this administration has gone to, to move forth with an agenda, or to cover one up. The integrity of the White House has reached a level of deceit and mistrust unheard of and it's removal after eight years will be a blessing. If only it could have come sooner. I cannot in good conscience vote for another Republican because of this administration and the Republican majority that was heading congress and allowed this to happen.

McCain who has backed Bush on his illegal war to Iraq costing this country trillion and precious human lives do not have right to critisize on this issue. Why have the double standard to gain sympathy from voters. All 49 republic senators including Lieberman are the puppets of Bush-Cheney. These are all obstructionists who protect Bush on every legislation and need to be wiped out in 2008 election.

Bill Richardson is the governor of New Mexico, not a senator.

The only good reason remaining to leave Guantanamo Bay open is to send Bush and Cheney and all of their co-conspirators down there to be tortured and waterboarded for their criminal acts against our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Otherwise, shut it down, elect Democrats and start repairing the plethora of injuries done to our United States of America by the Bush administration!!

Jaik from Chicago, I hope you do not work in the Sears Tower as that was one of the terror threats I remember being a possible target while Al-Qaeda terrorist were being water-boarded. You had better be thanking the CIA! Or would you rather be the next 9-11 victim unless you think Bush did 9-11.

You can bet the CIA destroyed those tapes on orders from Bush and/or Cheney.

On Iran, Bush was LYING HIS BUTT off, just like he did before the Iraq invasion. The only difference is, the liar got caught this time.

Why is this criminal still in office? A combo of wimpy Dems and unpatriotic Repubs who'd rather support Bush than represent the people, it's obvious.

Let's take our country back from these fascist while we still have a country.

What law did CIA break? Was the CIA obliged to make the tapes? No. Was CIA prohibited from making the tapes? No. Was CIA obliged to destroy the tapes? No. Was CIA prohibited from making the tapes? No.

CIA is a CLANDESTINE service. Protecting their officers is of the utmost importance. The "people" and the workd do not have any right to have any degree of access to our Intelligence Community, and cries to the contrary, and accusations of breaking non existant laws is simply an example of partisan hackery.

Nothing is going to happen. It will just get brushed aside like the false 911 Commission Report. Your Congress is bought and paid for.

This is why America needs Ron Paul to put this crap to an end and pull our troops out of the Middle East, halt PNAC, and secure our country instead of policing every other country. You can't bomb Democracy into Iraq, and next on the PNAC agenda, Iran.

Peace and Good Luck.

Ron Paul, 2008. Truth.

I am just the opposite as most posting here, to include, and I must say this is the first time I have really dissagreed with Mr McCain, He stands by our soldiers, and no one has been able to get him to so much as budge, but….when I think of how those terrorists are hurting and killing our soldiers, as in 911 also, I have to say, I wish we were a country to take those terrorists waterboarding. I am glad the CIA destroyed those tapes, because even if they blurr their faces, or muffle their voices, they can still be detected by size, height, etc., and the people who work for the CIA, and their lives can sometimes depend on their information being kept confidential, don't need their identities to be exposed. Look at what happened to Valerie Plame. We all know how some of these 'big shots' like to be in the media. If those tapes fell in the wrong hands, anything could happen. I think the CIA should be commended for making sure someone else at the CIA doesn't have their identity exposed…ever.

“But they should be concerned by their credibility with the American people. And to take actions such as that without a convincing argument for doing so, it erodes American confidence in the institution,” he added.

See how out of touch these guys are?

Hey bud,, we already have little confidence in the CIA. And, for that matter, the Government as a whole.
Hillary is right when she mouths the words "we have to really clean house here." Too bad she's as full of it as the lying liars in the CIA.

what is good for the goose is good for the gander. how can we constantly degrade other countries for human rights violations while violating human rights? just because torture is done under the guise of "information retrieval" doesn't excuse it. our CIA is proving itself to be a bureacracy to be feared… much like the Bush administration…

I, for one, fully support WHATEVER the CIA (under Clinton, Bush or whomever comes after) has to do to get the job done - PERIOD. They could skin men alive before their mother's eyes if that is what they THINK it takes to get the info. Yes, I know, "torture doesn't work…" - nonsense. It works well and always has, though it has its drawbacks too. No one wins a fight by being the so-called better man and anyone who wants to quote or make note of the torture convention should know that it is worthless (read the Declarations and Reservations to see what torture REALLY means: nothing).

Anyone who would not torture someone to get info that would, or even could, save their family from attack is a fool of the first order.

Given the intelligence report the other week about Iran’s nuclear program and know they where actually caught destroying evidence, there is no doubt in my mind or the rest of the world that this is the most corrupt, greedy, manipulative administration we have ever had. It does nothing but trick the people by destroying the truth now that every one know’s can we pleas move on to impeachment for there crimes, especially gwb.

John Edwards was the only one to raise the question about "WHY" the tapes were destroyed. All the others were talking big and saying nothing. What is an investigation going to do? We all know that the tapes were deliberately destroyed so go to the people that destroyed them, waterboard them and see who's name you get. Bush thinks that's a legal way to get the truth so why not?

Their is alot of mistrust between the intelligence community and the current administration. Do you blame them. Between civilians cherry-picking intel, in the run up to the war, the Abu Gharib prison scandal, and the Plame-Wilson scandal, do you blame them? Who knows what's been said behind closed doors? I'm sure"Turd Blossum" had his staff shred and erase every dirty little secret that shows telltale signs of Bushies being involved.This executive branch has made it clear to everyone that they will hang you out to dry, if it means covering their tails. Bush- Cheney: Fort Leavenworth 2008!! They have my vote.

Man this really reeks. The CIA was really stupid for doing this. I bet that the American distrust with both the CIA and the Bush/Darth/Halliburton administration is really riding high and will only go higher. Boy we are really looked down upon from all over the world because of sneaky low-life stuff as this.

I am so frustrated with our government, I can't believe this is the USA. The CIA obstruction of justice, waterboarding/torture, the new NIE report and Bush's rhetoric against Iran anyway….the list goes on and on and on. Then there is the past endeavers: Valerie Plame, fired judges, faulty intelligence against Iraq and our bombing them anyway, violating the Geneva Convention, Abu Graib, Haliburton and no bid contracts, PNAC, and then you consider Bush wasn't even really elected, Karl Rove's manipulation of the elective process. What has happened to our country. I find this all so frustrating and yet NOTHING ever seems to be done about it. We will probably watch Bush take us to another unfounded war due to our own ignorance and apathy and a congress that cannot seem to get anything accomplished.

Then you consider the new candidates. I can't believe that Clinton is even being considered with her shoddy past and deceptive actions. Guiliani would be more of the same, McCain sounds like a good man, but is too much of a wannabe like Bush towards Iran. The only two that appear to be any change at all are Obama and Huckabee. We need to get rid of all of congress; clean out the whole government and start over. We cannot afford an apathetic stance towards anything anymore. Too much of that has given us what we currently have now. This is just appalling to me. Kennedy was a very good president and was able to get through some extremely unnerving situations with Cuba/Soviet Union and our own CIA. He cleaned out the CIA due to their involvement with Northwood. Pay attention and let's do what's right for our country.

While everybody's talking, Biden is doing something.

Who does the CIA think they are? The KGB? lol
The KGB torment was so awful that U2 pilots of USSR overflights were given cyanide pills in case of a shoot-down (so they wouldnt have to go through it)

The only hope I see out of this mess, that the Bush Adminstration has made, is a BIDEN victory!

Note what John McCain said:

"I wish they had listened to members of Congress who said they should not do so (destroy the tapes)."

If he is being quoted correctly, this means that members of Congress KNEW about the tapes. Democrat and Republican. They also KNEW that the CIA was considering destroying the tapes. This indicates that members of Congress, Democrat and Republican, were briefed on this matter and did not ORDER the CIA to preserve the tapes.

Perhaps Senator Clinton was one of the members of Congress who was briefed? Governor Bill Richardson and John Edwards are out of the loop. Was Biden really unaware of the existence of the tapes? I do wonder…..

Waterboarding is not a "harsh interrogation technique." It's torture. And as such it's a war crime under both U.S. and international law. It's long past time that Congress open an impeachment investigation into the heinous conduction of the Bush administration. If they fail to do so the rhetoric of Biden et al. is just so much hot air. We need true accountability now.

I think everyone knows better to what the reasons are on why the tapes are destroyed, but don't want to 'politically' admit it. When the government wants answers for a subject, the CIA is told to do whatever it takes and use any means. But when the bullet comes back around, the politicians seem to run for the hills like cowards. Too much media attention that eventually, will bring out some poor CIA member to be hung out to dry, and after, things will continue as they always have, until the next 'woops' incident when the government does it again and needs a sacrificial lamb to make it seem like they are doing something right or needs a vote.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN HIT SINCE 911!! THANK YOU CIA!!!!!

I don't know who's worse, Congress or CNN. If you don't agree with them, it doesn't get published.

Remember the Rose Law firm? And remember Hillarys midnight paper shredding…?? ok…back to your reading…

What was on those tapes? What was on those tapes? What was on those tapes?

How quickly we forget that over 3000 Americans were killed by an enemy of the U.S. on 9/11. The same enemy attempted similar fatal attacks on U.S. interests with the Cole, in Kenya, previously in NYC, and there might be a link to the Oklahoma bombing. Militant Islamo-fascists have beheaded Americans, and kept Americans hostage as far back as 1979 in Iran. The enemy ships IED's to Iraq and Afghanistan to kill our men and women, and forms cells in our country to plan future attacks against innocent Americans to terrorize us and destroy our economy. And some folks are up in arms because AMERICANS are trying diligently to defeat the enemy by extracting valuable information in the best way possible to save precious AMERICAN lives!

The CIA operatives who performed the interrogations are heroes, and if they protected their identities by discarding worthless film, so be it. Let's ask Valerie Plame if she ever discard worthless intell. Let's ask Sandy Berger if he ever stole and discarded worthless intell. All is fair in war as long as it helps us defeat the enemy, and this will be forgotten once victory is declared.

McCain has no platform, except for attacking other people.

New Mexico Sen. Bill Richardson directed most of his criticism at the White House.
Come on, CNN! Who writes this stuff? The guy from NASCAR.COM who wrote that Dale Earnhardt had 8 Championships? He didn't put a by line on his articles either…

"White House press secretary Dana Perino said Friday that President Bush did not recall being told about the tapes or their destruction."

The only words in the GOP dictionary: "mistakes were made" (never I made a mistake) and "I don't recall." … it also came out this week that the president knew that Iraq had stopped making nuclear weapons 4 years ago and was sill ranting about WWIII!

And the GOP sits silent. If this were Clinton, they would be foaming at the mouth, howling about deception, lies and video tapes.

McCain sums it all up by saying "McCain, a presidential candidate, said while campaigning in New Hampshire on Friday that he would not side with Democrats' calls for an investigation because he believed the CIA's actions were legal."

Right or wrong doesn't matter - never side with truth or justice or Democrats who are trying to find answers - McCain has the GOP gut that knows whats happening - just like the homeland security hack.

Since water boarding is such a benign way of finding the truth … lets start with the CIA director and work our way down. They all say is really effective and with no lasting effects. Quicker than a Congressional hearing!

The CIA destroying documents is nothing new or inherent to this administration. they do this to protect there people's identities in order to keep them from being " outed " they do this because it protects high level members of the presidents staff who need to make the tough decisions no one wants to make, but have to make. Yes it looks bad I agree, but has to be done at times. this has been going on since the cia started. All your candidates know this and if elected" Will " have a need for the CIA and all they have to offer good or bad. Good luck proving the CIA broke the law during war. shame on those running for president who try and make this look like a Bush criminal act. War is ugly, war is bloody, war is dirty,,When we go to war ,we should go to war to win. If water boarding is a last chance result in getting what we need out of our enemy to win the war or foil a terrorist's act, that would be "one " of those tough decisions the CIA would want to make invisable.

so everyone is upset that the CIA destroyed some tapes. where was the out cry over berger destroying papers before he testified before the 9-11 commission.
Oops, I forgot he was covering for the clintons. so he gets a pass from the dems and the press.

If Congress is bought and paid for, maybe they are afraid of being exposed?

the Cia has been doing this sort of thing for ever. they will protect there operatives lives and cover any way they have to. they will protct the president and his staff when they are forced to make tough decisions during war any way they have to. War is tough , War is hell , war is ugly, War is dirty as can be,,,Wars are meant to be won and thats what we will do

To MR, WS, FL
All the attacks you mentioned are partially our fault to begin with? What I mean is that all those attacks could have been prevented if someone in our government was doing their jobs. The U.S.S. Cole for example; keep in mind one of my best friends was killed on board during the attack; He told me before they left Norfolk that In Aden they needed to be careful, even before he left, had a bad feeling. Someone dropped the ball? How does a multi- billion dollar, state of the art destroyer, allow a small boat full of Yemeni trash float along side and blow up? Their are protocols to be followed in foreign ports that were not obeyed. Period. Our government is just as liable as Sudan as far as I'm concerned. Next Kenya, a car bomb that got in side of the the embassy compound? Can you say lax security? Finally 911? Why was NORAD told to stand down? Those planes should have had F-16s escorting them to the ground as soon as they veered off course. Period. No compliance from the terrorists they should have been shot down. Period. Take a look at the Phoenix memo and tell me that the government had no prior knowledge to the 911 plot. The government has destroyed what used to be America, by creating new laws and protocols, when they didn't follow the ones in the books to begin with? Don't use my friend Firemen Patrick Howard Roy 1981 -2000 as an excuse to roll back all of our civil liberties. Period. Those who would exchange security for freedom deserve neither! No I didn't forget about those people killed, quite the opposite, I'm still pissed off about their senseless deaths.

To CIA LA, come on we are LOOSING the war in Iraq, we havent caight Osama BL, all our former allies are miffed at us, plus there is lots of other "doom and gloom" like being, as a country, tops in racism and anti-semitism. The CIA is a failure of historical proportions lol