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Cheney Seeks Release of More CIA Memos

Former VP says they show how techniques worked to save lives

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Apr 21, 2009 7:53 AM CDT

(Newser) – It’s no surprise that Dick Cheney thinks President Obama is wrong on torture. The surprise is that the infamously secretive former VP is suddenly in favor of public disclosure of classified memos that he thinks will prove his point. For his memoirs, Cheney has asked the CIA to declassify memos showing a direct connection between “enhanced interrogation techniques” and the foiling of planned terrorist attacks. “It worked. It’s been enormously valuable in terms of saving lives,” says Cheney.

“I know specifically of reports that I read, that I saw that lay out what we learned through the interrogation process and what the consequences were for the country,” Cheney told Sean Hannity in an interview yesterday. “And I've now formally asked the CIA to take steps to declassify those memos so we can lay them out there and the American people have a chance to see what we obtained.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

Former Vice President Dick Cheney appears on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, March 15, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Va., Monday, April 20, 2009. At left is CIA Director Leon Panetta and right is Deputy Director Steve Kappes. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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I know specifically of reports that I read, that I saw that lay out what we learned through the interrogation process and what the consequences were for the country. - Dick Cheney

One of the things that I find disturbing about this recent disclosure is they didn't put out the memos that showed the success of the effort. And there are reports that show specifically what we gained as a result of this activity.” - Dick Cheney

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Cheney Seeks Release of More CIA Memos