A story about destroyed tapes

[ThomWV]

Picture this simple story. The CIA has tortured people and there are tapes of the events. Somehow those tapes find their way to the custody of Jose Rodriguez (former head of Clandestine Service). Mr Rodriguez, out of some misguided loyalty to his employer, would like to destroy the tapes but knows he needs approval from above before he does any such thing. You do not rise to the level he did in Government without knowing that much. So he goes to CIA legal counsel (Scott Muller) who advises against destruction. He next goes to his boss, Porter Goss, and asks for approval to destroy. Goss isn't going to make that decision himself and goes to the White House lawyers, specifically Gonzales, Libby, Miers, and Addington. All of them advise against destroying the tapes. No surprise there. So now in our story we have Mr. Rodriguez holding the tapes and lots of people aware of the tapes and nobody other than Mr. Rodriquez thinking its a good idea to destroy the tapes, but at least he has had the good sense to ask. Now in my story Bush somehow finds out that the tapes exist. Doesn't matter how but with that many people aware of their existence it couldn't be kept hidden from him for long.

So now our story gets interesting. Rodriguez has the tapes, his boss has avoided dirty hands by passing the matter to the White House legal team. However every morning bright and early Goss is at the White House giving Bush is morning brief. So in our story let's imagine Bush demanding to see the tape himself. Hard to imagine isn't it? No? Well, let's say that Bush sees the tape and goes "Wow! That's really something. We better get rid of that tape right away." So that leaves Goss to go back to Rodriquez and give him the advice he has been seeking. Well, maybe not. My guess is that once he's been given immunity Rodriquez is going to testify that Goss came back from a meeting with Bush and told him nothing, other than maybe 'a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do'.

And that's my story. Its a stretch, maybe. Maybe not. One thing I am sure of. Some underling in the CIA did not ask for permission to destroy those tapes, be denied that permission, and then went ahead and destroyed those tapes anyway. All the lawyers said no, and apparently were smart enough to document their advice. So who does that leave and what is the easiest pathway by which it might happen? Goss and the morning briefing.

How do you like my story?

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. Great post, ThomWV

:thumbsup:

(um...since you still have time, you may want to retype "torchered" as "tortured"...?)

[ThomWV]

2. Done, and thanks. I could not spell that word for the life of me and the check didn't help.