The Central Intelligence Agency won't release memorandum that former Vice President Dick Cheney claims prove that the torture techniques applied by CIA interrogators provided valuable intelligence. The reason, according to an agency spokesman, is that the memos are the subject of pending litigation -- the litigation itself is unspecified -- and therefore, by statute, can't be disclosed until the litigation process is completed. Interesting note: the CIA doesn't say that they're not declassifying the memos because of national security reasons. They're giving themselves a technical out here. Cheney can ask President Obama to override the CIA's decision.



We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.