Obama Admin Readies Response to Upcoming Torture Report - Says 'Americans Can Take Pride' in End

from MintPress News:

A State Department document obtained by the Associated Press reveals part of the Obama administration’s attempt to ready its public relations response to an upcoming Senate report on the CIA’s torture program.

Due to be declassified in the coming days, the report is said to criticize the agency for its post-9/11 illegal torture of detainees in secret prisons. The document details some of the administration’s prepared talking points to be used once a White House-approved version of the report is released.

Reportedly sent by accident via email to the AP, the State Department memo describes the report as a demonstration of American democracy, rather than as an indictment of the CIA’s torture practices. The document states that “no American is proud” of the CIA’s tactics, but that “the story” of illegal, indefinite torture and imprisonment is part of a larger message, one in which “America’s democratic system worked just as it was designed to work in bringing an end to actions inconsistent with our democratic values.” That story, the document proclaims, is one in which Americans can take pride.

. . . The Senate report is also said to confirm what the public has long known about the RDI program — that in addition to torturing detainees, the agency lied to Congress about the program’s efficacy, claiming it was essential to gather information about al-Qaeda. The document states that the report “leaves no doubt that the methods used to extract information from some terrorist suspects caused profound pain, suffering and humiliation. It also leaves no doubt that the harm caused by the use of these techniques outweighed any potential benefit.”

The document also writes up questions from the press and members of Congress that are likely to be asked after the report is released:

“Isn’t it clear that the CIA engaged in torture as defined in the Torture Convention?””Doesn’t the report make clear that at least some who authorized or participated in the RDI program committed crimes?”

“Now that the report is released is the White House prepared to concede that people were tortured — or will these be like the non-coup in Egypt where you won’t admit the obvious?”

“Will the Justice Department revisit its decision not to prosecute anyone?”

“What are you still trying to hide?”