Monday, December 15, 2014
CIA chief John Brennan deserves thanks (Opinion) - CNN.com
In the immediate aftermath of September 11, 2001, government officials reacted and acted as they thought best.
Now, after many years, they are being condemned for what they did in the interest of protecting the country...
Now, after many years, they are being condemned for what they did in the interest of protecting the country...
At CNN.com, David Gergen presents a pretty realistic opinion on the issue:
"For starters, he placed the interrogation program into a context that too many are forgetting. As Brennan pointed out, the attacks that morning of 9/11 terrified the country and we quickly looked to the CIA to track down those responsible and ensure they never attacked us again.
We didn't want those agents -- as the phrase goes -- to bring a baguette to a knife fight; both the White House and Congress wanted them to do whatever it took. Brennan also made clear that the CIA (he served as deputy director under President George W. Bush) was not prepared to run a detention and interrogation program -- who would have thought they needed one?
They put it together quickly, but -- as Brennan readily conceded -- some agents then went far beyond the rules, employing brutal interrogation techniques."
