I detect the aroma of rattus norvegicus

Some excellent reporting in the NY Times today:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 — The Central Intelligence Agency in 2005 destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the interrogation of two Al Qaeda operatives in the agency’s custody, a step it took in the midst of Congressional and legal scrutiny about the C.I.A’s secret detention program, according to current and former government officials.

The videotapes showed agency operatives in 2002 subjecting terror suspects — including Abu Zubaydah, the first detainee in C.I.A. custody — to severe interrogation techniques. They were destroyed in part because officers were concerned that tapes documenting controversial interrogation methods could expose agency officials to greater risk of legal jeopardy, several officials said.

Isn't that weird, though? That they destroyed the tapes because it could "expose agency officials to greater risk of legal jeopardy"? Why it's... it's almost as if they knew they were doing something wrong. Or even illegal.