Pentagon ramps up security for CIA report
The Pentagon is telling U.S. military commanders around the world to be on high alert for the release of a Senate Intelligence Committee report on the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” by the CIA.
{mosads}”There’s certainly the possibility that the release of this report could cause unrest and therefore the Joint Staff has directed the combatant commands to take appropriate force protection measures,” said Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren on Monday.
The notice from the Joint Chiefs of Staff was issued Friday, Warren said.
Democrats began the investigation of the CIA’s rendition, detention and interrogation program in 2009.
While the full, 6,800-page report on interrogations under former President George W. Bush is expected to remain classified, a nearly 500-page redacted summary is expected to be released soon by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
The summary will likely contain new information about techniques used by the CIA when interrogating terrorism suspects in the years after the 9/11 attacks.
CIA officials have opposed releasing the summary, arguing it could jeopardize national security, and have worked with the White House on making redactions to the public document.
Republicans on the Intelligence Committee have also objected to the findings of the report, and withdrew participation in the investigation shortly after it began. Their dissent is expected to be released alongside the report from Democrats.
The release could happen as early as Tuesday.
Secretary of State John Kerry called Feinstein on Friday, urging her to consider the impact of the summary’s release on the safety of U.S. hostages around the world.
Warren declined to state whether the Pentagon supported the release of the report, but said, “Our focus is to ensure the protection of our personnel and facilities around the world.”
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