Perino Ordered To Keep Quiet About CIA Tapes

Back in 2005, two tapes were destroyed that showed CIA interrogators using "enhanced interrogation tactics" (torture) on suspected terrorists. Recently, this became public knowledge, and many in both parties would like to know why the tapes were destroyed.

Republican John McCain said of the tapes' destruction, "The actions, I think, were absolutely wrong. There will be skepticism and cynicism all over the world about how we treat prisoners and whether we practice torture or not." Republican Mike Huckabee was even clearer, saying the tapes were destroyed "to cover somebody's rear end."

The CIA says the tapes were destroyed to protect the identity of the CIA interrogators. But if these identities were so secret, why were the tapes made in the first place? It seems like an incredibly dumb thing to do.

It seems far more likely that the tapes were destroyed to protect the Bush administration. That was a time when the administration was trying to deny that they were using torture against terror suspects. The tapes would have shown conclusively that the administration was lying.

Democrats are demanding an investigation into the destruction of the tapes. What is the response of the Bush administration? It looks like they're going to try and stonewall this one. Dana Perino, Bush's press secretary, has been ordered not to answer any questions on the subject.

This is a pretty common action of this administration. When lying about a matter no longer works, they resort to "faulty memory" or stonewalling tactics. After the embarrassment of Alberto Gonzales' incredibly faulty memory, it looks like they've chosen the stonewalling option this time.

I think they'd be better off just admitting they were wrong and screwed up, but telling the truth is not something this administration is capable of -- even when it's the best option.