Gridlock News

David Addington, one of Dick Cheney's top advisors, told the Senate that he was not the person responsible for drafting the legal memo that outlined torture techniques to be utilized in Guantanamo and Abu Grahib by the Department of Defense.  Although he didn't rule out his potential for influencing the CIA's adoption of torture techniques in secret prisons by creating guidelines to prevent the use of torture by the CIA.

Addington appeared along with the lawyer, former Justice Department attorney John Yoo, before a House Judiciary subcommittee investigating the role of Bush administration lawyers in approving interrogation procedures. The tactics were far harsher than those traditionally used by the U.S. military.

The Associated Press learned in April that administration officials from Cheney on down signed off on the techniques after asking the Justice Department to endorse their legality.

Addington denied several reports that he was involved in the drafting of a key memo that the Justice Department later rescinded. The August 2002 memo narrowly defined torture as resulting in "death, organ failure or serious impairment of bodily functions."

Addington said he attended a White House meeting during which it was discussed; he said Yoo outlined for him and the president's counsel at the time, Alberto Gonzales, the subjects he planned to address.

Addington also said he was more involved in CIA interrogation policies than those used by the Defense Department at its detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

 

Basically, Addington has only proven that he does not want to be the target of a War Crimes Tribunal in an effort to literally save his own neck.  That said, most of the attempts by the Bush Administration and the Cheney Department these days are fairly transparent. 

I doubt Addington will be able to get a decent life insurance quotes anytime in the near future.  He probably better keep his own lawyers on speed dial with an international calling plan...