Departing CIA clown in uniform says torture 'worked'

[bigtree]

ABC News' Luis Martinez reports: CIA Director Michael Hayden offered a spirited defense of the agency's controversial detention and interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, which Attorney General nominee Eric Holder characterized today as "torture." Hayden said the techniques provided extremely useful information about al Qaeda and have led to repeated successes against the terror network.

"You can't say it didn't work. It worked," Hayden said in a wide-ranging farewell interview with reporters at the CIA's headquarters in Langley, Va.

Hayden said the legality of waterboarding and other enhanced interrogation techniques is an "uninteresting question to the CIA" right now because the agency has not engaged in the practices since March 2003. "We don't do that. We haven't done in it since March 2003. We have no intent to do it," said Hayden. He added that given the new legal climate since the passage of the Military Commission Act and the Detainee Treatment Act, "I wouldn't know what kind of answer I'd get from the Justice Department, were I to ask. But we haven't asked."

Hayden was not CIA Director at the time that the enhanced techniques were legally authorized for use at secret CIA prisons, but he offered a strong defense nonetheless. "I am convinced that the program got the maximum amount of information. Particularly out of that first generation of detainees."

Referring to 9-11plotter Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and al Qaeda financier Abu Zubaydah, Hayden said he couldn't conceive of another way for them to have provided useful intelligence, "given their character and given their commitment to what it is they do."

Hayden was dismissive of congressional efforts to impose the Army's field manual on the agency's interrogation efforts, labeling it a "real shot in the dark" that the manual "would suit the needs of the Republic in all circumstances," particularly when it comes to interrogating al Qaeda leaders.


read: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2009/01/cia-directors-s.html

[Solly Mack]

1. They brag about torturing people now

and why not? They got away with it...

It went from *we don't do that* to *we only did it to a few people* to *yeah, we torture and we don't care who likes it or not*

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. He always reminded me of this guy

[Solly Mack]

4. Yes!! He really does

[librechik]

2. He can't say it did work. Give examples?

no way.

Our assertion that it didn't work is as powerful as his denial that it did (without evidence.)

In fact, I believe quite a bit of evidence can be brought out to demonstrate it does NOT work.

Still waiting for his evidence (aside from assertions) that it did.

Besides, he walks around in a crazy uniform like Groucho in Duck Soup. Does not inspire confidence.

[DCKit]

5. Now you've got me imagining * and Dick in matching Napoleon uniforms.

Thanks so much. Preznit Codpiece was bad enough.

[spanone]

6. you know they are gonna drag out clowns like this to buff up their legacy horseshit

i'm surprised it took so long

[H2O Man]

7. This is the fellow

who, a few years back on camera, said that the Constitution didn't include certain rights which are plainly documented in the Bill of Rights.

[librechik]

8. same guy

claimed the fourth amendment did not have a probable cause provision !

Why is this guy in government? I don't even want to know that.

[bigtree]

9. It can't be overstated how dangerous this man is in government and in the military hierarchy

He and Yoo, too. Relieved to see them go, at last.

I wonder how many of their protege's are nested? Leon Panetta will should good for rooting them out.