Huh?

White House discloses details of e-mail backup system

Although the White House has backup media from October 2003 onward, officials said that, "consistent with industry best practices," they recycled the backup tapes used from March to October 2003, a period that included the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Since when is recycling backup tapes consistent with best practices?

Edit -
Waxman: Chart showed White House missing e-mails

The details of the Bush administration’s e-recordkeeping system and e-mail backup contingency plans became clearer this week when Theresa Payton, chief information officer in the Executive Office of the President’s Office of Administration, submitted an affidavit Jan. 15 to a federal court with details about the information contained on the White House’s backup tapes. The revelation came in response to a court order in the now consolidated lawsuit against the Bush administration.

Her declaration states that although the White House has backup media from October 2003 onward, the White House recycled the backup tapes used from March to October 2003, a period that included the United States’ invasion of Iraq. According to Waxman’s letter, one of the days for which the White House has no e-mail archived for the Office of the Vice President – Sept. 12, 2003 -- came while backup tapes were being recycled.

Edit ii -
The very indiscreet Tony Fratto.

Edit iii -
Cheney emails missing from day leak probe started.

Edit iv -
I keep wondering: have they checked that man-sized safe in Cheney’s office? Maybe he kept some copies there