US credibility damaged by CIA tape affair: lawmakers

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US lawmakers on Sunday blasted the CIA for destroying interrogation tapes of terror suspects, saying it would damage America's standing and feed suspicions about possible torture.

A day after the Justice Department said it had opened a preliminary inquiry into the affair along with the CIA's internal watchdog, presidential hopefuls and lawmakers from both parties condemned the disposal of the videotapes.

"What this does in a larger sense is it harms the credibility and the moral standing of America in the world again," said Senator John McCain, a Republican contender for the White House who was abused as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

"There will be skepticism and cynicism all over the world about how we treat prisoners and whether we...