Cheney: Learn From CIA, Don't Investigate Interrogators

Probes are 'outrageous political act,' says ex-VP

By Mat Probasco, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 30, 2009 6:49 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Obama administration should be asking CIA interrogators how they managed to ward off terrorist attacks for 8 years rather than investigating possible breaches of law while doing so, former Vice President Dick Cheney told Fox News today. Investigating interrogators is an "outrageous political act" that will do long-term damage, said Cheney.

US Attorney General Eric Holder appointed a special prosecutor last week to investigate whether the harsh interrogation techniques were criminal. "They're out there now threatening to disbar the lawyers who gave us the legal opinions. They're going to go out and investigate the CIA personnel who carried out those investigations," Cheney said.

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Former Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington earlier this year. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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"The approach of the Obama administration should be to come to those people who were involved in that policy and say, 'How did you do it? What were the keys to keeping this country safe over that period of time?'"
- Dick Cheney

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 32 comments

hwoodude

Sep 1, 2009 12:42 PM CDT

Well said, Observer...Americans must not sluff off Cheney's madness...he has many corporate and very, very wealthy supporters who know Obama will limit their power. The talk show knucle draggers will continue to obfuscate the truths of Bush and Cheney's illegal, murderous "reign." Americans MUSt demand the truth to be uncovered and punished to insure that the last 8 years of Bush/Cheney madness will never, ever be allowed to happen again in America!

Bambi

Aug 31, 2009 11:47 AM CDT

Thank you, Schmidtkoff. Finally, someone touches on WHY we must obey Geneva conventions and thus why we must prosecute our war criminals, including Cheney.

oldgoat

Aug 31, 2009 7:18 AM CDT

This country is suppose to be a country of laws and when the laws are broken they should be investigated. Did the CIA actually prevent an attack throught their use of torture? We'll probably never know, but many experts in interogation say that it isn't the most effective manner to get info, including those like McCain who says that the tactics actually worked to increase the AQ membership. I believe that Cheney is more worried that he will be found to be involved and maybe charged.

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Dick Cheney • CIA • Fox News • harsh interrogation • Eric Holder • enhanced interrogation techniques • special prosecutor

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Cheney: Learn From CIA, Don't Investigate Interrogators