We Have A Term For This

I believe it's "criminal conspiracy."

These pricipals specifically discussed what techniques could be used to torture captives in US custody, including waterboarding. There's no excuse for torturing another human being who is helpless in your custody. None. This article describes high level Bush Administration officials approving war crimes.

The CIA knew it. That's why they kept going back to this Pricipals Committee. They were scared of going to jail, and they wanted explicit permission from their superiors for each and every thing they did. The "Golden Shield" memo from OLC head Jay Bybee is a shield against CIA agents going to jail. It's a shield meant to protect them from accountability to the law.