By now you've heard about the CIA Director Mike Hayden confirming that two videos of "extreme interrogation" of terrorism suspects did in fact exist, but were destroyed to protect the identities of the agents.

Former CIA agent Larry Johnson shreds this excuse:

But let’s assume for a moment that undercover CIA officers actually were filmed. Are you telling me that CIA has not figured out how to edit videotapes and cover the faces and voices of their personnel? I’m sure there is a 14 year old computer geek out there somewhere with a MacBook Pro who is ready and willing to help the CIA do the necessary editing to protect their personnel. The Hayden excuse does not pass the bulls--t test.

Johnson goes on to identify the real reasons:

Let’s be clear why these were destroyed–the chief of the Operations Division, Jose Rodriguez, understood that this was video evidence of torture. It was not the exposure of clandestine identities that had him fretting. It was the fear that CIA officers and contractors could be standing before a tribunal in the Hague trying to explain why the images of torture were not torture.

Then there is the potential embarrassment from showing that these extreme interrogation measures did not produce any intelligence of significance. If, for example, one of the tortured victims had spilled the beans about an impending attack on the White House or the financial towers of New York City you can be sure that evidence would be preserved and shared. At least those involved in this tawdry affair could justify violating international conventions by demonstrating that “lives were saved”. But that did not happen.

Someone may be going to jail for this one. You can debate the meaning of torture, but destroying evidence is a crime. The 9/11 Commission specifically asked for this material and was told it didn't exist. There were also court cases for terrorism suspects where these materials were requested. That amounts to obstruction of justice, and could end up turning some terrorists free, with some CIA officials taking their place in prison.

It's not the crime that gets you sometimes, it's the coverup.