Impending CIA torture report
August 2, 2014
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, US President Barack Obama remarked on an impending report from the US Senate probe into the controversial CIA torture practices used to prevent terrorist attacks. The US leader had banned the techniques – which were later branded as inhumane – when he took office in 2009.
"We did a whole lot of things that were right [after 9/11], but we tortured some folks. We did some things that were contrary to our values," Obama said, referring to policies in place under his predecessor George W. Bush.
Reminding the public of the "enormous pressure" on authorities at the time to prevent another terrorist attack, the US president warned Americans "not to feel too sanctimonious in retrospect about the tough job these folks had."
Obama also defended CIA director John Brennan, who has recently come under fire following reports of spying on the investigative committee.
“I have full confidence in John Brennan," Obama said.
Expected findings
According to officials familiar with the report, the investigative panel found that the CIA did not obtain better information as a result of using its controversial torture methods, which included water boarding.
It reportedly will conclude that the CIA purposely misled US lawmakers about the benefits of its "enhanced interrogation techniques" over normal questioning methods.
The writers of the report were also said to have avoided using the term "torture," favoring instead "enhanced interrogation techniques."
Questions about redactions
The findings of the report prepared by the Senate committee are expected to be made public in the coming days. Earlier this year, the panel presented a voluminous draft of the investigation to the White House, which then returned a declassified and redacted version of the report.
The committee is reportedly now verifying the reasons behind the redactions before releasing its conclusions.
"A preliminary review of the report indicates there have been significant redactions. We need additional time to understand the basis for these redactions and determine their justification. Therefore the report will be held until further notice and released when that process is completed," the committee's chair, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, said.
kms/tj (AFP, Reuters)