David Addington: I can’t talk about torture because al-Qaeda may be watching CSPAN

[meegbear]

David Addington today offered a preposterous reason for refusing to answer a question about whether or not he was party to talks about torture with his superiors — al-Qaeda may be watching CSPAN and he can’t give away any information that may benefit them. Really.

DELAHUNT: Oh I can understand why doesn’t talk about it.

ADDINGTON: Because you gotta communicate with al Qaeda. If you do — I can’t talk to you, al Qaeda may watch C-SPAN.

DELAHUNT: Right. Well, I’m sure they are watching, and I’m glad they finally have a chance to see you, Mr. Addington.

ADDINGTON: Yeah, I’m sure you’re pleased.

UPDATE: Digby has much more on Addington:

Addington ought to be held in contempt of Congress for just plain contemptuousness. As Scott Horton noted on Pacifica’s coverage, he clearly believes himself to be smarter than all the Representatives in the room, and he has no problem bullying them around the way he reportedly bullies everyone in the executive branch. He also doesn’t mind lying about his role in designing torture tactics after a personal trip to Guantanamo…read on

Click on the link below to see the video clip.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/06/26/david-addington-i-cant-talk-about-torture-because-al-qaeda-may-be-watching-cspan/

[bdamomma]

1. what a smug SOB

I hate them all, but someday they will get their just dues.

[jimshoes]

2. If he fell in a large hole and could not get out

and I was the only one to see it, I believe I'd just walk away.

[BrklynLib at work]

3. What a nitwit!! And that is an insult to nits!!!

[notadmblnd]

4. Cheney's protege

I'm sure the arrogance and smugness was instilled in him by his mentor.

[InkAddict]

5. Are they in the hearing room as well?..Stop the camera temporarily and

take the authenticated transcript under oath. Loose lips sink ships, but tight ones sink the Constitutional processes of the USA. Wonder if it would make a difference to stop the camera temporarily; clear the hearing room and take an authenticated transcript after passing him some cash; wait, he probably doesn't want dollars, make that Euros and/or a deed for a producing oil well.

[rurallib]

6. I so hoped Delahunt would have stepped down and smacked

Addington a few and then turned to Yoo and said "write me a memo that makes that legal."

[gratuitous]

7. The only proper response

"I'll risk it. Answer the question, please."

[Lint Head]

8. This man is an evil individual. He is the type that doesn't give a

shit about what this country means or the rights of the People. His smugness is obvious and he should be in jail along with Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rice. :dem:

[Wapsie B]

9. Typical neocon.

There has got to be a hell for people like Addington.

[wtmusic]

10. You're boring, David. "The Bucket List" just came out on DVD.

OBL is watching Jack Nicholson.