Twitter
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Delicious
Digg
Newsvine
Google
Yahoo
TechnoratiBush Defends Interrogation Program in Michigan Speech
BENTON HARBOR, Michigan -- Former President George W. Bush on Thursday repeated Dick Cheney's assertion that the administration's enhanced interrogation program, which included controversial techniques such as waterboarding, was legal and garnered valuable information that prevented terrorist attacks.
Bush told a southwestern Michigan audience of nearly 2,500 -- the largest he has addressed in the United States since leaving the White House in January -- that, after the September 11 attacks, "I vowed to take whatever steps that were necessary to protect you."
In his speech, Bush did not specifically refer to the high-profile debate over President Obama's decision to halt the use of harsh interrogation techniques. Bush also didn't mention Cheney, his former vice president, by name.
Instead, he described how he proceeded after the capture of terrorism suspect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in March 2003.
"The first thing you do is ask what's legal?" Bush said. "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."
Bush avoided the sharp tone favored by Cheney in recent weeks and stressed he does not want to disparage Obama.
"Nothing I am saying is meant to criticize my successor," Bush said. "There are plenty of people who have weighed in. Trust me, having seen it first-hand. 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."
The former president was speaking to the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan. In a change in format, he agreed to answer questions directly from the audience instead of responding to pre-submitted questions provided to a moderator.
He repeated his disclaimer about not passing judgment on Obama later when asked about North Korea's nuclear test. Before answering, the 43rd president said he is "in no way trying to shape my successor's decisions or criticize them."
"I know there are news people here, and they love conflict," he said. Bush then went on to say that diplomacy is impossible without leverage.
"A lot of times people want to give out the carrots," he said. "My attitude is, you give out the carrots when the behavior changes."
After his opening remarks, Bush engaged in a nearly hour-long back-and-forth with audience members that touched on nearly all aspects of his presidency, from the September 11 attacks to his ban on embryonic stem cell research, to his consultations with advisers as the economic crisis hit last year.
He strongly defended his Troubled Asset Relief Program in response to the economic crisis at the end of his presidency, calling it crucial to preventing capital markets from freezing up, which he said would have led to another Great Depression. However, he said he remains "a free-market guy."
Asked what he thinks about conservative pundits who say the Obama administration's fiscal policies are opening the door to socialism, Bush said: "I think the verdict is out. I think people are waiting to see what all this means."
The former president received a noisy standing ovation when answering a question about what he wants his legacy to be.
"Well, I hope it is this: The man showed up with a set of principles, and he was unwilling to compromise his soul for the sake of popularity," he said.
He also revealed the topic of the first chapter in his forthcoming book, which he said will be about "the stories of my administration, as I saw them." That first chapter, he said, will answer the question: "Why did I run for president?"
12 Comments so far
Show AllWow! We have many Sunday armchair quarterbacks who speak without ever having walked in President Bush's shoes. Here there were 3 men who were water boarded, not just any men but those that intended to kill US citizens, and we hear a lot of crying from those who conveniently overlook the fact Obama has agreed to the strikes by missile firing drones that are killing many innocent civilians in Pakistan. The intended targets are the Taliban, Al Qaida and other militants but nonetheless, innocent people are getting killed. Is Eric Holder going to prosecute Obama for that? As for those that want the photos of rapes and "mass murderers", not every member of the military is a rapist or mass murderer as you call it just as not every one that is not in the military can be labeled "yellow belly afraid to serve" their country. Some criticize but are never willing to put their lives on the line for the freedom that we have in our country. Some of those critics should move to Iran, Iraq, Pakistan. I am sure they would be given the freedom to criticize so liberally.
The first question he asked was "What can we get away with?"
The answer was "We can get away with anything! Let's do it!"
I heard Roxana Saberi say that she made a false confession that she was a spy because of "fear" on NPR the other day. Will there be anyone in the media to note the irony here???
deleted
We have new pictures that show how the Bush Interrogation Program treats Muslem women. I see that U.S. spy, Roxana Saberi, was well treated and released by Iran and America responded by bombing a mosque in the city of Zahedan and leaving it "awash with Israeli and US fingerprints.” The good Lord might continue to show mercy and forgiveness to some of the American people but it would be sheer folly for any American citizen to expect mercy after what our government has committed in our name. Are we 'safer' now?
This Repug took his cues from Cheney and tortured his wife to get her to admit to an affair she did not have.
"The first thing you do is ask what's legal?"
The first thing you do is ask is what's moral?
"A lot of times people want to give out the carrots"
That's dangle the carrot as in 'the carrot or the stick', idiot.
"I think the verdict is out."
The 'JURY' is out, you moron.
I wish he'd been pelted with 5,000 shoes at this event.
Yes Mr Bush, it was a hard decision. A gut wrenching one with which you spent many nights agonizing over. Yes Mr Bush, you are the real victim here being put in charge of the safety of 300 million Americans.
You were "The Great Decider" and you decided the safety of Americans was paramount.
It is so very easy to turn torture, rapes, and mass murders into a Noble Cause isn't it Mr Bush?
Stalin , Mao and Hitler were all very good at that too.
"The first thing you do is ask what's legal?" Bush said. "What do the lawyers say is possible?..."
The first thing you do is ask what's moral and right. Mr. Bush, your moral education (or lack thereof) is showing.
When the government is being run by lawyers, especially of the neo-con variety, morality never enters the equation.
This country doesn't have a chance. The "dark side police state cretins" have always been with us. That's why we were able to conquer the Indians and steal their land and honor slavery with our laws and ignore the law with Jim Crow. Look inside, Americans, the evil are us.
"The first thing you do is ask what's legal? What do the lawyers say is possible? I made the decision, within the law, to get information..... I can tell you that the information we got saved lives." - former president George W. Bush
These are the core talking points for the torture apologists. The lawyers said it was okay, so we courageously made the tough decision to do what we had to do, and thousands of innocent American lives were saved as a result.
Eric Holder should do his job and prosecute the top officials who made torture official US government policy, with their lawyer enablers as conspiracy codefendants.
Congress - whether by Committee hearings or through a specially authorized Commission - should thoroughly investigate and expose the right wingers' incessant propaganda claims that waterboarding detainees at CIA black cites actually prevented evil doer terrorist attacks on American soil that otherwise would have taken place during the last seven years of the Bush/Cheney watch.
Keep ignoring the torture apologists' talking points, and it's only a matter of time before the war criminals will be back in charge of the federal government, secure in the knowledge that they can literally get away with murder and never be held accountable. That's how a two-party electoral system almost inevitably works, as the pendulem swings.
We ignore, or even dignify, these dark side police state cretins only at great peril.
Bill from Saginaw
This is why the photos showing rape MUST be released. This is why the photos providing evidence of rape MUST be repeatedly reported and hammered on.
Force the torture supporters to defend rape. Force the torture supporters to try to argue that rape is legal, much less ethical.
Chapter One
Why did I run for president? Because Mommy told me to.
Chapter Two
How does a "free-market guy" defend the TARP? With a wink and a nod.
Chapter Three
Who was really in charge, me or Dick Cheney? Truthfully, it was...ungh...........
After the attacks I vowed to protect you.
False Flag
False Flag
False Flag!