Bush CIA Director: 'Zero Dark Thirty' Portrayal of Interrogations 'Not Factually True'

NewsBusters.org ^ | February 23, 2013 | Noel Sheppard

[Kaslin]

On the eve of Sunday's Academy Awards presentation, former George W. Bush CIA Director Michael Hayden has made a strong statement about the hunt for Osama bin Laden film "Zero Dark Thirty."

In an interview to be aired on CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS Sunday, Hayden said, "If you look at the movie, it was artistically true, not factually true. Artistically, it portrayed the CIA interrogation program, but factually it was overwrought and inaccurate" (video follows with transcript and commentary):

Bush CIA Director: 'Zero Dark Thirty' Portrayal of Interrogations 'Not Factually True'

FAREED ZAKARIA, HOST: Did enhanced interrogation techniques, specifically waterboarding, get us the vital information on the path to Osama bin Laden?

MICHAEL HAYDEN, CIA DIRECTOR UNDER GEORGE W. BUSH: Well Fareed, we waterboarded only three people. Now there were several detainees in CIA custody against whom enhanced interrogation techniques were used – not including waterboarding – that did provide information that formed part of the fabric, part of the tapestry of information that we used to finally get to Abbottabad.

If you look at the movie [“Zero Dark Thirty”], it was artistically true, not factually true. Artistically, it portrayed the CIA interrogation program, but factually it was overwrought and inaccurate. Artistically it seemed to draw tight connections between the interrogation program and Abbottabad. There were connections, but they weren’t that tight. And finally artistically, it had Maya against the world and against a large fraction of the rest of the agency which really wasn’t true. This was a team effort over a long period of time.

But even Director Panetta has pointed out that some of the information that formed part of that fabric in the hunt for bin Laden came from detainees against whom enhanced interrogation techniques had been used.

Other than how it related to "Zero Dark Thirty," this is right in line with what Hayden wrote in the Wall Street Journal in June 2011.

As such, at issue appears to be the waterboarding incident depicted in the film.

I'm sure this isn't the kind of conversation those involved with the movie wish to be occurring on the eve of the Oscars.

Regardless, it does once again confirm that enhanced interrogation techniques did help us get bin Laden.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Well...duh. Who’d a thunk it?

[FixitGuy]

Too much of this stuff in an "unclassified" enviroment. Many, many years ago when I had my clearance most of the stuff readily seen on TV today would have gotten you a $10,000 fine and ten years in lockup!

It's clear that today $10,000 is pocket change and everyone is considered to have "Need to know"!

Obama couldn't come near to passing a real security clearance.

What's happened to us as a nation?

[FixitGuy]

Too much of this stuff in an "unclassified" enviroment. Many, many years ago when I had my clearance most of the stuff readily seen on TV today would have gotten you a $10,000 fine and ten years in lockup!

It's clear that today $10,000 is pocket change and everyone is considered to have "Need to know"!

Obama couldn't come near to passing a real security clearance.

What's happened to us as a nation?

[FixitGuy]

Too much of this stuff in an "unclassified" enviroment. Many, many years ago when I had my clearance most of the stuff readily seen on TV today would have gotten you a $10,000 fine and ten years in lockup!

It's clear that today $10,000 is pocket change and everyone is considered to have "Need to know"!

Obama couldn't come near to passing a real security clearance.

What's happened to us as a nation?

[FixitGuy]

Too much of this stuff in an "unclassified" enviroment. Many, many years ago when I had my clearance most of the stuff readily seen on TV today would have gotten you a $10,000 fine and ten years in lockup!

It's clear that today $10,000 is pocket change and everyone is considered to have "Need to know"!

Obama couldn't come near to passing a real security clearance.

What's happened to us as a nation?

[usconservative]

Regardless, it does once again confirm that enhanced interrogation techniques did help us get bin Laden.

Yes it did, and for that America should never apologize. To do so would be a sign of weakness that would be unmistakeable to our enemies.

[FixitGuy]

Too much of this stuff should never see the light of day! When I had my clearance many, many years ago there was a $10,000 fine and ten years in lockup. Now $10,000 is pocket change and everyone seems to have "Need to Know"!

Obama could never have passed a proper security background check!!!!

[FixitGuy]

Sorry for the multiple posts. My Puter kept telling me lies!!

Can't trust Man or Machine these days <;^)

[Cyber Liberty]

Dang. Got it.

[Brad from Tennessee]

[Too much of this stuff in an “unclassified” environment. Many, many years ago when I had my clearance most of the stuff readily seen on TV today would have gotten you a $10,000 fine and ten years in lockup!]

I can remember as late as the early 1970’s even the designation “National Security Agency” was classified. One problem was Daniel Ellsberg, Philip Agee, and some lesser turncoats escaped punishment for disclosing U.S. secrets. Ellsberg was indicted but found not guilty of espionage. Agee published a book that named undercover CIA personnel at stations around the world. This led to at least one assassination—Richard Welch in Athens. Agee allegedly later peddled $1 million worth of information to the Cubans.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Everyone sure is out to get “Zero Dark Thirty”. I wonder why?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Kaslin.

...we waterboarded only three people. Now there were several detainees in CIA custody against whom enhanced interrogation techniques were used -- not including waterboarding -- that did provide information that formed part of the fabric, part of the tapestry of information that we used to finally get to Abbottabad.

[Blackirish]

Yes. It’s seems that Kathryn Bigelow has really hit a nerve with this film. Getting blackballed at the Oscars..Andrew Sullivan getting his panties in a bind...Feinstein....McCaine....all hysterical. Little piggies are squealing.

[jwalsh07]

It’s a movie, not a history book.

[Blackirish]

Oh...and the NYTimes had two articles TODAY disparaging the film. ....and when the film was first released it was supposed to be a slam dunk for best film of the year.... strange.

[Homer1]

you can say that again

[UCANSEE2]

What's happened to us as a nation?

Freedom of choice is what we got, freedom from choice is what we want.

-DEVO

[UCANSEE2]

Everyone sure is out to get “Zero Dark Thirty”. I wonder why?

Because the hero of the movie was a red-headed caucasian girl instead of a half arab/ half caucasian Muslim trained Communist?

[patriotspride]

It’s a movie, not a history book.

---

Interesting take on all the event, characters involved, and lead up.

Fell apart for me during the actual raid.

Who believes you can have a helicopter crash, multiple explosion entrys, and
still have someone not wake up and hear this way before they got to UBL.