Hard Measures: Ex-CIA head defends post-9/11 tactics

Jose Rodriguez: Well, the dark side, that's what we do.

Lesley Stahl: You are the dark side.

Jose Rodriguez: We are the dark side.

His first big operation came after the capture of a Palestinian, thought then to have high level al Qaeda connections, named Abu Zubaydah when he was taken prisoner in Pakistan in the spring of 2002, Abu Zubaydah was badly injured in a firefight.

Jose Rodriguez: He actually was on the verge of dying. So we brought in a surgeon from the U.S. to help him out.

Lesley Stahl: You brought in a top-rate surgeon from Johns Hopkins?

Jose Rodriguez: Yes, the best that we could find.

Lesley Stahl: You save him so you can squeeze everything out of his brain that you can?

Jose Rodriguez: So we could elicit intelligence that would allow us to keep our country safe. So we took him to a black site.

Black site. It was the first of several secret interrogation centers around the world. Abu Zubaydah was still recovering from his gunshot wounds when the interrogation began.

Lesley Stahl: When you start the interrogation, it's both the CIA and the FBI, right?

Jose Rodriguez: Correct. This was our prisoner, our site, our show -

Lesley Stahl: Meaning the CIA?

Jose Rodriguez: The CIA, but we had invited the FBI to come along.

Now there's a big dispute over which agency got more information and more valuable information. At first, FBI interrogators used their standard interviewing techniques with no coercion, and Abu Zubaydah cooperated, giving tips and leads but--

Jose Rodriguez: After he regains his strength he stopped talking.

Lesley Stahl: And then he just shuts down. Is that what happens?

Jose Rodriguez: He shuts down.

But the FBI's lead interrogator said he didn't shut down, and that they should continue with their traditional methods of questioning. Jose Rodriguez, though heard the ticking time bomb and felt a sense of urgency.

Jose Rodriguez: If there was going to be another attack against the U.S., we would have blood on our hands because we would not have been able to extract that information from him. So we started to talk about an alternative set of interrogation procedures.

Lesley Stahl: So you're the one who went looking for something to break this guy.

Jose Rodriguez: Yes. And let me tell you something, you know, because years later the 9/11 Commission accused, or said that 9/11 was a failure of imagination. Well, there was no lack of imagination on the part of the CIA in June 2002. We were looking for different ways of doing this.

His search led him to a former military psychologist who had helped train American soldiers in how to resist torture if they were captured. The psychologist adapted the brutal tactics of our Cold War adversaries into what the CIA called "enhanced interrogation techniques." A team of interrogators -- about six of them -- was given a two-week training course and while Jose Rodriguez himself never engaged in any of the sessions with detainees, he supervised the program.

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[Rattoo]

Excellent book. The evidence is in. Bottom line: Enhanced Interrogation as part of a HUMINT collection program works! Anyone who denies this knows nothing about interrogation or HUMINT. Jose Rodriguez is a great American Patriot. Thank God we still have a few people like this left to keep us safe. On the other hand, the book reveals what many Americans have suspected for some time: There are anti-American ideologues in the government and media, who will do everything within their power to destroy the U.S. and anyone who tries to protect and defend her. In simply doing his job, Rodriguez had to contend with self-serving bureaucrats, politicians and malignant reporters hell-bent on releasing classified information to the world. It is these illegal leaks, and not Rodriguez' noble and necessary HUMINT activities, that are criminal. The book demonstrates what a hopeless bureaucratic nightmare our intelligence and defense services have become; an endless charade of paperwork, rules, attorneys and confusing nonsensical, bureaucratic steps, just to conduct simple intelligence activities. Certainly, at this rate, we will not--we cannot--prevail in a war with a capable adversary. And the facts revealed, so far, demonstrate this is exactly what liberals in the U.S. want. Consistent with facts revealed in this book, and stated liberal ideology, we now see irrefutable evidence that the Obama administration and its corrupt Attorney General and his minions, are behind further leaks of classified information and a grand cover up of the same. No amount of sham regime "investigations," however, can cover-up the truth. Lawless Obama, Holder and treasonous leaker-liberals should be tried and jailed. Rodriguez deserves high praise and our gratitude for doing what needed to be done to keep us safe, in the face of liberal treason.

[bb911b]

This guy makes me crap my pants. We are all one designation away from being a terrorist. With a stroke of a pen, you won't be able to fly, won't be allowed a lawyer, a trial in front of your peers, and executed all within a year. Add in some torture at Gitmo too, although it will be done "by the book".

The constant evoking of the thousands killed during the most famous false flag event of our time is chilling. As 911 fades from most citizen's memories,its usefulness to the govt for stripping us of our rights and freedoms is endless.

Visit wheredidthetowersgo.com if you want to understand further why nothing your government does now can be trusted. One lie begets the next.

[PatriotUSMC]

This man is my new role model. I am tired of hearing people cry about the comfort of terrorist. Yes, they probably where tortured but so what. I would rather that then have my wife or child killed by one of these people. If you complainers disagree then say so. If you know a better way to get an uncooperative subject to cooperate then say so. If not then shut up and let these brave people do the jobs that need to be done but your not willing to do.

[chmhale]

Rodriguez is a lying, stinking bag of crap. This morning on Morning Joe he claimed that KSM was only waterboarded 3 times. Then he said even KSM said he was boarded 5 times. After that he says KSM was waterboarded 3 times or maybe a few more. During this interview he admits the number 180 times, during Scarborough he claims 180 is a lye. He can't keep his story straight from one interview to another, because he is full of CRAP!

[PatriotUSMC]

So what, do you know a better way to make KSM talk. If not then stop talking.

[timmeh60]

Leslie is a great example of out of touch liberalism on parade! The spinelessness, wimpiness of our liberal friends to think that sleep deprivation, loud music is considered "Orwellian". What a joke. You libs are WHY we get attacked and people like the ones who strap bombs to children to blow up innocent people, who SAW off heads of captured journalists, etc. are why OBL attacked us. He even said as much because of our retreat after Somalia and the USS Cole where we essentially did nothing in retalliation. But to listen to Leslie wringing her hands worrying about the feelings of KSM is a laugh riot.

[PatriotUSMC]

Well said mate.

[demsuk]

Thank you Mr.Rodriguez.You are brave man not only for your heroic work done on anti terrorism but to go public on 60 Minutes.Thank you! You have restored my hope in American Government. You did a fine job not only finding KSM and others but in extracting vital information as well.I agree 100% with your comment on Obama contridicting the former administration.....disgusting !Please stay active and available , because as unfortunate it might be , your superior job skills and services will probably be needed again to defend my family and this country.This country should be proud to have a man like you defending it , I know I am.Please stay focused, don't let the book distract you from the truth which is that there are extremely dangerous people in the world that do not approve of our life style and seek to cahnge it and destroy it and the world as we used to know. The world is a different place now and you understand that and understand its need for protection. Please keep up the good work .....the USA and the world needs more men like yourself and Mr.Bush. Thank you.

[luckyturqoise]

I also want to thank this man. Why does Stahl treat him like the enemy? She should go ask the families of 911 what they feel about Rodriques? She needs a good slap in the face. This is why people abhor journalists today!!! Anal Retentive war on the minds the viewer. I rarely watch tv any more and this is why. Retire Stahl and enjoy it, thanks to men like Mr.R.

[davalee]

I was so incensed this past Sunday evening listening to Leslie Stahl downgrade a man who was working to break the code of conduct in the terrorists. Of course, we do not hold to cruelty, but CIA was doing a job that was necessary to use during wartime! If anyone thinks war isn't evil, one needs to step out into the field to discover the enemy is out to kill, steal,and destroy. For the past two weeks 60 minutes has left a bad taste in our mouths about our military as well as concerning Christians in Israel It is despicable to see what you are trying to do to our nation!!!! Why not be on the side of real Americans instead of the regime.

[BCSEA]

A great man... a hero... a spy who uncloaked himself to sell a book.

It is clear we tortured prisoners, unclear what we learned as a result and that we sold our soul in the process. Whatever excuses we used don't really matter.

If you don't like CBS switch back to Fox news. Rupert Murdoch will tell you what you want to hear. (Still waiting for that hacking story to break open stateside btw.) Fox motto: "Doing George Orwell proud".

[Johnny_Friendly]

this guy is just plain creepy. let's see, am I admitting to war crimes?? heck yeah! in fact, I'm gonna write about it. Hubris...
this guy needs to be prosecuted along with his buddies getting off on torturing prisoners.

[BCSEA]

How did we become afraid enough to turn our national values over to small-minded career stooges like Jose Rodriguez. His pathetic attempt to seek attention for his role and sell his book puts at risk everything he supposedly worked to build. The world is full of people willing to give away their values for opportunities like this. The Nation should choose more wisely next time. Like G Gordon Liddy and Oliver North before him he wraps himself in the flag of protecting the homeland while shredding the tapes showing the actual results of his work. It is so easy to give yourself an "A" for "D" work when no one can see what you are up to. Even the FBI thinks he is a clown.

And Leslie... never apologize for posing real questions to attention seekers given a national audience by CBS. Please channel your inner Mike Wallace next time. I miss that man... I really do.

[eghall23]

I commend Rodriguez for protecting our country. Sure, wouldn't it be nice if we could all be nice to each other and be friends? Unfortunately, sometimes we have to use tough measures to protect ourselves. It isn't torture. It is necessary. In this interview, Stahl pretty much sealed the deal for me to not watch 60 Minutes anymore. I get that tough interview questions need to be asked, but good God, could she be any more biased? Give me a break. I congratulate Rodriguez for keeping us safe.

[BCSEA]

If you believe that Rodriguez is keeping us safe you and I have a very different idea of what safe is. What kind of self-serving clown talks about his methods after the fact? Maybe the kind that allows himself to be taped driving to CIA HQ in a convertible vette (over-compensating anyone?). His main reason for the interview is to sell his book. That in itself disqualifies him from the conversation. In my opinion Leslie didn't go deep enough. The only other people who witnessed his techniques thought they were useless, wasteful, ham-handed and counter-productive. I get that we all want to punch back but we need to be careful who we hire to do our punching. A competent spy would never be seen on TV. A self-aggrandizing book ***** is what we have here.