Bush Defends Interrogation Techniques

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Republicans

(AP)

Former President George W. Bush on Thursday defended his administration's use of harsh interrogation techniques against terrorist suspects, insisting interrogators were within the bounds of the law and gained valuable information.

Mr. Bush said that he consulted with his lawyers before deciding to use waterboarding on terrorism suspect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed after he was captured in March 2003.

"The first thing you do is ask what's legal?" Mr. Bush said, according to CNN. "What do the lawyers say is possible? I made the decision, within the law, to get information so I can say to myself, 'I've done what it takes to do my duty to protect the American people.' I can tell you that the information we got saved lives."

The former president also said his decision to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein will one day be vindicated as the establishment of democracy in the Middle East, the Detroit Free Press reported, and that "people will say, 'Thank God they never lost faith.'"

Mr. Bush, in his biggest speech since leaving the White House, echoed the sentiments of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who last week also defended the administration's interrogation practices.

Unlike Cheney, however, Mr. Bush was careful to avoid criticizing the current president's policies.

"Nothing I am saying is meant to criticize my successor," Mr. Bush said, CNN reported, speaking before the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan. "There are plenty of people who have weighed in. Trust me, having seen it firsthand. I didn't like it when a former president criticized me, so therefore I am not going to criticize my successor. I wish him all the best."

Mr. Bush also said he remains a "free-market guy," though he insisted the Troubled Asset Relief Program was necessary in order to prevent a depression.

When asked what he wants his legacy to be, Mr. Bush said he'd like to be known as "the man showed up with a set of principles, and he was unwilling to compromise his soul for the sake of popularity."

Mr. Bush now heads to Toronto, where he will sit with Bill Clinton today for a $230-plus per ticket "conversation" at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre focusing on "challenges facing the world in the 21st century."

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by Solarrays247 May 29, 2009 7:03 PM EDT: Well, well, Mr Bush, so far this week I have personally read two different accounts by two different individuals that have served in counterintelligence on behalf of the United States. One served in Iraq, the other served in Afghanistan, and both of these veterans are coming forth and putting their reputations and honor on the line by claiming that,according to Jay Bagwell, an Afghanistan veteran, torture has only served to embolden the enemy, help terrorist recruiting, and undermine our reputation in the world. It is not effective, and goes against the ideals of our military.

Therefore, Mr. Bush, until we get the entire truth out, and understand how we got to this place, we cannot do everything that must be done to ensure torture doesn't happen again!!! And believe me....you can take this personally!

I made banners, and marched in August, 2004, beseeching you, Mr. Bush, to stop the lies, save our military lives! You continue to be a liar, and a failure beyond description! Mr. Cheney, is certainly not a failure (Halliburton), but he continues to be the biggest liar of all!

Unless this matter is investigated to the fullest extent of the law.....the blood of our military, 9/11 victims, and the thousands upon thousands of innocent Iraqis in on your hands!

By the way, I come from a family (three generations) of proud Marines.....and you are not fit to shine their boots!; Reply to this comment


by whosaid1 May 29, 2009 5:39 PM EDT: discount what doesn't fit ... attack what doesn't align ... the ends always justify the means.
Posted by bobnjersey

Really....!!! seems to me that you've described yourself perfectly.... If you're going to continue to "insult" why don't you come up with something original....your remind me of a "kid"...."oh you are just stupid"..."you are a moron".... IN MY PERSONAL OPINION.....you are a "joke" of the highest magnitude...; Reply to this comment


by bobnjersey May 29, 2009 5:25 PM EDT: [By the way, you don't know me...and I don't know you....but your recurring personal insults....are beginning to make it clear to me WHAT you are... ]
[Posted by whosaid1 at 2:02 PM : May 29, 2009 ]

discount what doesn't fit ... attack what doesn't align ... the ends always justify the means.

this is what you're doing ... this is what all right thinkers do ... and this is what makes you a moron.

and i don't have to know you to make this assessment.; Reply to this comment


by bobnjersey May 29, 2009 5:21 PM EDT: [Secondly, you people never answered the question on torture and morality. ]
[Posted by notblue at 2:03 PM : May 29, 2009 ]

you people?; Reply to this comment


by notblue May 29, 2009 5:03 PM EDT: bobnjersey, opinions are like asssshooles everone has one. If oyu believe as the CIA that actually fighting terrorism creates more terrorists expalin how not fighting is the better option, wasn' that the strategy rpior to 911? How did that strategy work? How will it work better in the future? Secondly, you people never answered the question on torture and morality. Is it a higher moral standard to let thousands die because we refuse to make one terrorist uncomfortable or is it more moral to torture the one or in the case of the U.S. the three and not and let those innocents die? Have you ever heard of the phrase that the needs of the many outway the needs of the few or the one? Guess not.; Reply to this comment


by whosaid1 May 29, 2009 5:02 PM EDT: Posted by bobnjersey

of course the very same CIA that you put such confidence in....said that Iran didn't have a nuclear program. So much for the NIE....most have known for years that it is normally FLAWED. But, you being the SMART person you are...you know that...right? By the way, you don't know me...and I don't know you....but your recurring personal insults....are beginning to make it clear to me WHAT you are...; Reply to this comment


by bobnjersey May 29, 2009 4:30 PM EDT: [So, it's ACTUALLY TRUE....is it....are you sure it's true, in which case I'm sure you'll provide proof of it...or is it your opinion? Oh, I forgot you liberals have a difficult time saying "in my opinion".....if you think it,...it MUST BE TRUE. ]
[Posted by whosaid1 at 1:21 PM : May 29, 2009 ]

it's in the opinion of the cia as well. their nie last year clearly indicated that the actions taken in iraq have served as a recruitment tool for al queda ... and has not done anything to reduce those migrating toward hating america.

only a moron would not be able to see this.; Reply to this comment


by bobnjersey May 29, 2009 4:28 PM EDT: [bobbyduck, the with us or against us statement was in regard to terrorism not the U.S. population. ]
[Posted by notblue at 1:18 PM : May 29, 2009]

that's what you were suppossed to come away consciously with after listening to them repeating it over and over.

but what they were really doing was creating a good vs. evil positioning ... of course placing himself and his world view as the 'good' and anyone who opposes it or disagrees with it as 'evil'.

the rest is the history you'd obviously rather not acknowledge. they subsequently attacked anyone who oppossed their little scam ... and did everything to postion those in oppostion as 'giving comfort to the enemy' ... 'not patriotic' ... and 'on the side of the terrorists'.

it could easily be proven to rational thinking people.

it's not likely to mean anything to you though ... since it would leave your current belief system in shambles if you ever actually let it in ... and you wouldn' t want to be doing that now ... would you?; Reply to this comment


by hologram5 May 29, 2009 4:25 PM EDT: You consulted your lawyers: You mean the morons that are sweating with fear of prosecution? The guys that can barely find jobs? Nice you moron. Next you'll say they told you the easter bunny is real...; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 May 29, 2009 4:21 PM EDT: The tortures amongst other overt aggressive actions against targeted Islamic individuals were not completely to compile information on possible further terrorist activity but, to supplement and aggravate animosities and hatred to sustain a perpetual military situation.; Reply to this comment