Intel Director: High-Value Info Obtained

breitbart.com ^ | Apr 21, 2009 | DAVID ESPO

[kellynla]

The Obama administration's top intelligence official privately told employees last week that "high value information" was obtained in interrogations that included harsh techniques approved by former President George W. Bush. "A deeper understanding of the al-Qaida network" resulted, National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair said in the memo, in which he added, "I like to think I would not have approved those methods in the past." The Associated Press obtained a copy.

Critics of the harsh methods—waterboarding, face slapping, sleep deprivation and other techniques—have called them torture. President Barack Obama said Tuesday they showed the United States "losing our moral bearings" and said they would not be used while he is in office. But he did not say whether he believed they worked.

Obama ordered the release of long-secret Bush-era documents on the subject last week, and Blair circulated his memo declaring that useful information was obtained at the same time.

In a public statement released the same day, Blair did not say that interrogations using the techniques had yielded useful information.

[mortal19440]

“I like to think I would not have approved those methods in the past.”

I’d rather cut off their heads, it’s not quite as harsh.

[Cindy]

ON THE INTERNET:

Transcripts.CNN.com: "STATE OF THE UNION WITH JOHN KING Interview with Janet Napolitano; Interview with Senators Klobuchar, Ensign" (Aired April 19, 2009, 09:00 ET)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "This is Torture?" by Jacob Laksin (SNIPPET: "Nevertheless, the administration erred in releasing the memos.") (April 21, 2009)

CNN.com: Washington - "EX-CIA CHIEF: OBAMA RISKS NATIONAL SECURITY" (SNIPPET: "A former head of the CIA slammed President Obama on Sunday for releasing four Bush-era memos, saying the new president has compromised national security.") (Updated April 19, 2009, 7:44 p.m. EDT)

Online.WSJ.com: "THE PRESIDENT TIES HIS OWN HANDS ON TERROR The point of interrogation is intelligence, not confession." by Michael Hayden and Michael B. Mukasey (April 17, 2009)

CIA.gov: "MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR: RELEASE OF DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OPINIONS Statement to Employees by Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Leon E. Panetta on the Release of Department of Justice Opinions" (April 16, 2009)

US DOJ.gov/opa - Press Release: "DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE RELEASES FOUR OFFICE OF LEGAL COUNSEL OPINIONS" (April 16, 2009)

WHITEHOUSE.gov: "STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ON RELEASE OF OLC MEMOS" (April 16, 2009)

FOX NEWS.com: "EX-CIA CHIEF CRITICIZES RELEASE OF INTERROGATION MEMOS Former CIA Director Michael Hayden says release of the memos will give terrorists a precise guide for what to expect in a CIA interrogation if those methods are ever approved for use again" (April 16, 2009)

FOX NEWS.com: "OBAMA MAY RELEASE DETAILS OF CIA's INTERROGATION METHODS USED ON TERROR SUSPECTS" by Brit Hume (SNIPPET: "The president's decision will tell us much about him.") (April 15, 2009)

[econjack]

Critics of the harsh methods—waterboarding, face slapping, sleep deprivation and other techniques—have called them torture. President Barack Obama said Tuesday they showed the United States "losing our moral bearings" and said they would not be used while he is in office.

Screw Obama...he just doesn't get it. If you have to get nasty with someone who has information than endangers US citizens, it's your friggin job to get that information. I don't want a namby-pamby President who chums around with dictators or bows and kisses rings of monarchs. Mister Niceguy is going to end up costing thousands of American lives because our enemies do NOT respond to kindness. They see it as weakness and the only thing they understand is a jackboot to the back of the head. The sooner Obama learns this, the sooner I'll get a good night's sleep.

[dforest]

There is NOTHING moral about Barry Soetero. His administration is totally corrupt.

His moral high ground nauseates me.