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| Cheney enters 'torture' memos row | Cheney enters 'torture' memos row |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Former US Vice-President Dick Cheney has urged the CIA to release memos which he says show harsh interrogation techniques such as water-boarding work. | Former US Vice-President Dick Cheney has urged the CIA to release memos which he says show harsh interrogation techniques such as water-boarding work. |
| His comments follow the publication of memos written by Bush administration lawyers which justified the techniques. | His comments follow the publication of memos written by Bush administration lawyers which justified the techniques. |
| Mr Cheney said that the decision to publish the memos was a mistake. | Mr Cheney said that the decision to publish the memos was a mistake. |
| And it was misleading, he said, because the documents did not include those demonstrating that harsh interrogation delivered intelligence "success". | And it was misleading, he said, because the documents did not include those demonstrating that harsh interrogation delivered intelligence "success". |
| "One of the things that I find a little bit disturbing about this recent disclosure is that they put out the legal memos... but they didn't put out the memos that show the success of the effort," Mr Cheney told Fox News. | "One of the things that I find a little bit disturbing about this recent disclosure is that they put out the legal memos... but they didn't put out the memos that show the success of the effort," Mr Cheney told Fox News. |
| JUSTIN WEBB'S BLOG The real question - of course - is whether waterboarding is justified under any circumstances Read Justin's thoughts in full | |
| "There are reports that show specifically what we gained as a result of this activity. They have not been declassified. I formally ask that they be declassified now." | "There are reports that show specifically what we gained as a result of this activity. They have not been declassified. I formally ask that they be declassified now." |
| The American people should have a chance to weigh the intelligence obtained alongside the legal debate, he said. | The American people should have a chance to weigh the intelligence obtained alongside the legal debate, he said. |
| Mr Cheney made his comments as US President Barack Obama visited the CIA headquarters just outside Washington. | Mr Cheney made his comments as US President Barack Obama visited the CIA headquarters just outside Washington. |
| In a move seen as an attempt to boost morale, Mr Obama told employees that the CIA remained key to protecting the country. | In a move seen as an attempt to boost morale, Mr Obama told employees that the CIA remained key to protecting the country. |
| Don't be discouraged that we have to acknowledge that potentially we've made some mistakes Barack Obama Interrogation 'morass' for Obama Q&A: Water-boarding | |
| Staff had faced a "difficult" few days, he acknowledged, but they had his full support and were key to tackling threats from groups such as al-Qaeda. | Staff had faced a "difficult" few days, he acknowledged, but they had his full support and were key to tackling threats from groups such as al-Qaeda. |
| Mr Obama said he had had no choice but to release the Bush administration's legal justification for interrogation techniques, which he considers to be torture - and has banned. | Mr Obama said he had had no choice but to release the Bush administration's legal justification for interrogation techniques, which he considers to be torture - and has banned. |
| "Don't be discouraged that we have to acknowledge that potentially we've made some mistakes. | "Don't be discouraged that we have to acknowledge that potentially we've made some mistakes. |
| "That's how we learn. But the fact that we are willing to acknowledge them and then move forward, that is precisely why I am proud to be president of the United States and that's why you should be proud to be members of the CIA," he said. | "That's how we learn. But the fact that we are willing to acknowledge them and then move forward, that is precisely why I am proud to be president of the United States and that's why you should be proud to be members of the CIA," he said. |
| The memos, detailing the range of techniques the CIA was allowed to use during the Bush administration, were released on 16 April. | The memos, detailing the range of techniques the CIA was allowed to use during the Bush administration, were released on 16 April. |
| Quoting one of the memos, The New York Times said water-boarding - or mock drowning - was used on two al-Qaeda terror suspects on up to 266 occasions. | Quoting one of the memos, The New York Times said water-boarding - or mock drowning - was used on two al-Qaeda terror suspects on up to 266 occasions. |
| Other methods mentioned in the memos include week-long sleep deprivation, forced nudity and the use of painful positions. | Other methods mentioned in the memos include week-long sleep deprivation, forced nudity and the use of painful positions. |
| Mr Obama on Thursday said he would not prosecute under anti-torture laws CIA personnel who relied in good faith on Bush administration legal opinions issued after the 11 September attacks. | Mr Obama on Thursday said he would not prosecute under anti-torture laws CIA personnel who relied in good faith on Bush administration legal opinions issued after the 11 September attacks. |
| But he has been criticised by human rights organisations and UN officials, who say charges are necessary to prevent future abuses and to hold people accountable. | But he has been criticised by human rights organisations and UN officials, who say charges are necessary to prevent future abuses and to hold people accountable. |