Eye Spy - May 2018

32 EYE SPY INTELLIGENCE MAGAZINE 115 2018

ver a decade ago Michael

Hayden, former D/CIA

acknowledged tapes

made in 2002 containing

tough interrogation

CAMP X-RAY

LEGACY OF

THE ‘MELT DECISION’

A controversial decision to destroy filmed recordings of

two senior al-Qaida figures still causing ripples at Langley

and amongst Washington’s Establishment

O
techniques used on al-Qaida
suspects, including Abu Zubaydah
were destroyed at the end of

2005. The tapes were reportedly
      melted to protect the identity of
      the Agency’s senior interrogation
      officers, and because it was
      thought there was little worth in
      keeping them. Critics of the

THE CIA MEMORANDUM

After the story surfaced in the

media in the mid-2000s, following

a leak, Mr Hayden posted an

internal memo on the affair. Par t

of it read:

CIA’s terrorist detention and

interrogation programme began

after the capture of Abu Zubaydah

in March 2002. Zubaydah, who

had extensive knowledge of al-

Qaida personnel and operations,

Jose Rodriguez Jr.

decision note that the timing of the

tapes destruction coincided with

major pressure being exerted on

the CIA over its Extraordinary

Rendition programme.

According to intelligence sources,

the ‘melt decision’ was taken by

Jose Rodriguez Jr, then Director of

the CIA’s National Clandestine

Service. Others believe the CIA

was instructed by White House

advisors on behalf of President

Bush.

Guantanamo Bay detention

centre, Cuba

ALL CHANGE AT LANGLEY

ment is

Michael

Morrell. He

served as

both Acting

Director and

Deputy

Director

under

President

Obama.

Speaking

about

Haspel’s

nomination

and stories

concerning the destruction of evidence from

events in Thailand, Morrell said: “She did so at

the request of her direct supervisor and

believing it was lawful to do so.” And to add

credibility to Haspel’s standing in Langley,

Morrell said: “I personally led an accountabil-

ity exercise that cleared Haspel of any wrong-

doing in the case.”

Abu Zubaydah featured

on destroyed CIA tapes

CIA,” while Christopher Anders of the

American Civil Liberties Union (Washington

DC office), said she was “up to her eyeballs in

tor ture.”

McCain (and others) who oppose EIM also

mentioned the president’s feelings towards

this controversial subject. Mr Trump wanted to

“bring back waterboarding because it works”

but this was resisted by US Defense Secretary

James Mattis.

EXPERIENCED AND RESPECTED

Despite the expected criticism from some

quar ters, Haspel is well liked at Langley and

few can deny she is a vastly experienced and

informed officer. Some CIA sources have

already condemned the stories that link her

with events in Thailand saying they are

“untruths” intended to derail her selection. One

former CIA spy who is well placed to com-