Chertoff Denies Advising CIA on Torture

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- Homeland Security Secretary-designate Michael Chertoff privately told congressional staffers Monday that he did not advise the CIA on the legality of using specific torture techniques on terror suspects when he headed the Justice Department's criminal division.

Meeting with Republican and Democratic staff members two days before his Senate confirmation hearings, Chertoff said any legal advice he gave the CIA was broad and generalized -- and merely from the viewpoint of "what a prosecutor would look for," one aide said.
...
The Capitol Hill meeting, which lasted several hours, was described as cordial. Several aides who spoke on condition on anonymity said Chertoff grew slightly exasperated after repeated questioning over whether he had any role in approving techniques that critics said violated Geneva Conventions prohibiting violence, torture and humiliating treatment.
...
Chertoff repeatedly told aides he gave only basic and generalized advice as "how a prosecutor would approach the statute."

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-chertoff-hearing,0,1001949.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[Bleys]

1. Semantics

It's all just semantics.

-josh
mockriot - news discussion

[librechik]

2. well, what is the meaning of is???

what a clown

[w4rma]

3. "I am not a crook!"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/articles/111873-1.htm

[struggle4progress]

4. lie lah lie! lie lah lie lie lie lah lie! lie lah lie!

[VegasWolf]

5. His advice, don't leave marks and keep the cameras home. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

6. Chertoff denies advising CIA on torture

Monday, January 31, 2005 · Last updated 11:05 p.m. PT

Chertoff denies advising CIA on torture

By LARA JAKES JORDAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER



Federal appeals court judge Michael Chertoff speaks during the announcement by President Bush of Chertoff's nomination to be his new secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Jan. 11, 2005. Chertoff is expected to win confirmation easily following his Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005, hearing, although Democrats said they plan to question him about his role in advising the CIA about torture standards. (AP Photo/Susan Ann Walsh/File)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

WASHINGTON -- As he prepares for his upcoming confirmation hearing, Homeland Security Secretary designee Michael Chertoff has denied advising the CIA on using specific torture techniques on terror suspects when he headed the Justice Department's criminal division.

Chertoff is expected to win confirmation easily following his Wednesday hearing, although Democrats said they plan to question him about his role in advising the CIA about torture standards.

Meeting with Republican and Democratic staff members Monday, Chertoff said any legal advice he gave the CIA was broad and generalized - and merely from the viewpoint of "what a prosecutor would look for," one aide said.

The Capitol Hill meeting, which lasted several hours, was described as cordial. Several aides who spoke on condition on anonymity said Chertoff grew slightly exasperated after repeated questioning over whether he had any role in approving techniques that critics said violated Geneva Conventions prohibiting violence, torture and humiliating treatment.
(snip/...)

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apwashington_story.asp?category=1152&slug=Chertoff%20Hearing

[Journeyman]

7. Natch. . .

I'd deny that puppy too.

[IndianaGreen]

8. How about being more specific about his "general" advise to CIA?

His Talmudic answer that he did not give specific torture techniques, leaves the question unanswered as to what did he specifically tell the CIA.

[Hekate]

9. So then, what did he advise the Pentagon?

The CIA is being diminished and destroyed in favor of Rumsfeld's Pentagon spy agency, which is not subject to Congressional oversight. In light of that, maybe Chertoff didn't need to acknowledge the CIA at all.

That and the fact that all of Bushco seems to have no problem with lying under oath.

Hekate

[EFerrari]

10. Good boy. Stay broad and general. Don't disappoint us. nt

[aikido15]

11. Evasive and dishonest=GOPukes

How do they get away with it? It's like they are made of teflon or something...nothing sticks and NOBODY demands accountability from them, not Congress, no one!

Clinton would have been lynched for a lot less.

[Rose Siding]

12. "It was broad and general; crappy really and of no use to anyone"

"I was so vague and imprecise, I don't know why I bothered!" :silly:

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. Chertoff Denies Advising CIA on Torture

February 1, 2005, 2:05 AM EST

WASHINGTON -- As he prepares for his upcoming confirmation hearing, Homeland Security Secretary designee Michael Chertoff has denied advising the CIA on using specific torture techniques on terror suspects when he headed the Justice Department's criminal division.

Chertoff is expected to win confirmation easily following his Wednesday hearing, although Democrats said they plan to question him about his role in advising the CIA about torture standards.

Meeting with Republican and Democratic staff members Monday, Chertoff said any legal advice he gave the CIA was broad and generalized -- and merely from the viewpoint of "what a prosecutor would look for," one aide said.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-chertoff-hearing,0,1001949.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines


Sure Mike, sure you never told anyone to strip prisoner of their cloths, form human period, make them simulate sexual acts or put electrodes on their penises. Of course, you only spoke in generalizations, that's how it works. Just let the interrogators work out the gory details.

[BlueManDude]

14. Fabricator, fabricator - trousers ablaze!!! n/t

[Supersedeas]

15. when a prosecutors 'delineates' what factors to look for - that NOT

advise on torture.

These liars have no conscious. Obviously, no one wants to own up to the human rights mess--not the President, not the Attorney General nominee, and not the Homeland Security nominee.

The White House points the finger at the Justice Department.
The Justice Department says they only spoke in generalities.

Yet, the policy was quite specific.

But the Headline reads as if it were a FLAT DENIAL.
Rove must smile.

[yellowcanine]

16. Methinks there is an awful lot of protestin by Mr. Chertoff.

Has anyone asked him to define what is acceptable for interrogations and what is not?