WASHINGTON — Four former CIA directors opposed releasing classified Bush-era interrogation memos, officials say, describing objections that went all the way to the White House and slowed release of the records.
Former CIA chiefs Michael Hayden, Porter Goss, George Tenet and John Deutch all called the White House in March warning that release of the so-called "torture memos” would compromise intelligence operations, current and former officials say. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to detail internal government discussions.
President Barack Obama ultimately overruled those concerns after internal discussions that intensified in the weeks after the former directors intervened. The memos were released Thursday.
Obama’s personal involvement grew as the decision neared, and he personally led a National Security Council session on the matter, senior administration officials said.
Senior White House adviser David Axelrod, who said he also talked with the president about the pending release of the memos in recent weeks, said Friday that the CIA directors’ opposition was considered seriously but that it did not impede the decision-making process.
The memos detailed the legal rationales that senior Bush administration lawyers drew up, authorizing CIA officials to use simulated drowning and other techniques on terror suspects and detainees.
Obama gave the matter "the appropriate reflection,” Axelrod said. He said Obama’s deliberations revolved around "the issue of national security versus the rule of law,” and amounted to "one of the most profound issues the president of the United States has to deal with.”
President’s message
The administration decided it would be better to make the release voluntarily, so as to not be seen as being forced to do so, the officials said.
Obama took the unusual step of accompanying his decision with a personal letter to CIA employees. He also devoted a big share of his public statement to saying that he believed in keeping intelligence operations secret and operations about them classified. And he said he would not apologize for doing so in the future.
by the associated press
Former CIA chiefs Michael Hayden, Porter Goss, George Tenet and John Deutch all called the White House in March warning that release of the so-called "torture memos” would compromise intelligence operations, current and former officials say. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to detail internal government discussions.
President Barack Obama ultimately overruled those concerns after internal discussions that intensified in the weeks after the former directors intervened. The memos were released Thursday.
Obama’s personal involvement grew as the decision neared, and he personally led a National Security Council session on the matter, senior administration officials said.
Senior White House adviser David Axelrod, who said he also talked with the president about the pending release of the memos in recent weeks, said Friday that the CIA directors’ opposition was considered seriously but that it did not impede the decision-making process.
The memos detailed the legal rationales that senior Bush administration lawyers drew up, authorizing CIA officials to use simulated drowning and other techniques on terror suspects and detainees.
Obama gave the matter "the appropriate reflection,” Axelrod said. He said Obama’s deliberations revolved around "the issue of national security versus the rule of law,” and amounted to "one of the most profound issues the president of the United States has to deal with.”
President’s message
The administration decided it would be better to make the release voluntarily, so as to not be seen as being forced to do so, the officials said.
Obama took the unusual step of accompanying his decision with a personal letter to CIA employees. He also devoted a big share of his public statement to saying that he believed in keeping intelligence operations secret and operations about them classified. And he said he would not apologize for doing so in the future.
by the associated press
