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The Spectacle Blog

Obama's Intel. Director Says Bush-Era Interrogation Yielded "High-Value" Info

By Philip Klein on 4.21.09 @ 10:20PM

The New York Times reports:

“High value information came from interrogations in which those methods were used and provided a deeper understanding of the al Qa’ida organization that was attacking this country,” Adm. Dennis C. Blair, the intelligence director, wrote in a memo to his staff last Thursday.

This would seem to be an important part of the overall torture debate, but somehow this portion of the memo was conveniently left out by the Obama administration when it released the Bush-era interrogation memos last Thursday:

Admiral Blair’s assessment that the interrogation methods did produce important information was deleted from a condensed version of his memo released to the media last Thursday. Also deleted was a line in which he empathized with his predecessors who originally approved some of the harsh tactics after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

“I like to think I would not have approved those methods in the past,” he wrote, “but I do not fault those who made the decisions at that time, and I will absolutely defend those who carried out the interrogations within the orders they were given.”

Blair later clarified:

"The information gained from these techniques was valuable in some instances, but there is no way of knowing whether the same information could have been obtained through other means,” Admiral Blair said in a written statement issued last night. “The bottom line is these techniques have hurt our image around the world, the damage they have done to our interests far outweighed whatever benefit they gave us and they are not essential to our national security."

As I wrote earlier , this is a very complex issue that often produces plenty of heated accusations on both sides despite limited access to the facts. Now that the cat is out of the bag, it's imperative that we're given a full account not only about what techniques were employed, but what information was gained as a result of those interrogations.

View all comments (6) | Leave a comment

Julia| 4.21.09 @ 10:35PM

Liberals do not act in good faith, and I do not trust them. They look like such jerks, I have nothing but contempt for them.

Big J| 4.22.09 @ 8:04AM

So the witch-hunt begins. The Obama administration has done more to damage this country, our national security and economic system in the first 100 days than I thought was humanly possible. Am I surprised at the intent? No, I saw it the very first time I heard him talk. Empty suit, soaring rhetoric. I am shocked however, at the speed with which this man is destroying our country. It is as if this is all perfectly normal. Very unnerving, very scary. I fear the safety and security that we have enjoyed and sometimes taken for granted for the last 7 1/2 years is long gone. I can only hope it returns before the next major attack materializes.

Becky| 4.22.09 @ 8:20AM

It is like being a little bit pregnant, and they want to abort the issue. Let's see what this baby looks like, I say.

Crusader| 4.22.09 @ 8:58AM

Admiral Blair is a traitor to ever man and woman in uniform. He figuratively pi$$ed on the carpet and then got his nose rubbed in it, hence the "clarification" later.

What more proof do you people need that GOs are politicians first, warriors second (if at all). Admiral Blair swore to uphold and defend the US Constitution, not BO's foreign policy. A US fighting man has just made us look weak to the very people in this world we need to long strong to. Thank you, admiral, for betraying us and the national security of this once-great nation.

Why is our image hurt by being strong (what does that say about the people who allegedly hate us)? Will our "image around the world" be enhanced after pictures of dead Americans resulting from the next attack are beamed across the globe? Maybe we can all hope the French or Brits will like us more if only AQ would do a Mombasa-style attack here! Please, please, we need our image enhanced so please AQ, go shoot up a couple malls or daycare centers. Pictures of dead American babies will make the average Brit or Kenyan or whoever like us more.

Roll over, admiral, roll over for da prez, show your belly, that's a good boy!

Angel| 4.22.09 @ 2:37PM

I think the Admiral bent over and assumed the position. This is a liberal administration we're talking about. If we get hit again, blood will be all over the democrat party. Traitors.