CIA director says 'Executive' approved waterboarding, Congress knew of tapes in '03; UK's Brown to sign Lisbon treaty, but alone, away from cameras...

12 December :: CIA director Hayden has said harsh interrogation techniques appearing on destroyed video tapes "reviewed and approved by the Department of Justice and by other elements of the Executive Branch"; he has briefed Senate intelligence committee, but said he was unable to answer all questions, because tapes were made under one predecessor and destroyed under another, that he would make the most knowledgeable witnesses available to Congress for questioning; Hayden also said the tapes were made known to Congress in 2003, as was the intention to destroy them; they had been ordered preserved by a federal judge before their destruction... UK PM Gordon Brown seems to have offended all parties by arriving late to sign Lisbon treaty; foreign minister will attend photo ops, Brown to sign late, by himself, has been criticized for lack of leadership on issue... 6 young people shot at close range after stepping off school bus in Las Vegas; police gang unit has been activated, investigators suspect shooting linked to fight at high school hours before shooting; at least two shooting suspects are at large, while three boys have been arrested for the school fight, allegedly over a girl; one man is in critical condition, one boy in serious condition, the other 4 have minor wounds... In early primary voting state, NH, Sen. Obama has "caught" Sen. Clinton in opinion polls, with 30% to her 31%, after support among women in NH dropped severely for Clinton...