Bush Defends Harsh Interrogation Tactics

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/us_bush_speech/2009/05/28/219312.html

Bush Defends Harsh Interrogation Tactics

Thursday, May 28, 2009 10:54 PM
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Former President George W. Bush today defended his decision to use harsh interrogation Thursday, saying it was cleared by his lawyers to prevent what his advisors believed was another, imminent attack.


“I made a decision within the law to get information so I can say, I’ve done what it takes to do my duty to protect the American people,” he said. “I can tell you, the information gained saved lives," according to the Detroit Free Press.


In wide-ranging remarks and answers to the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan, Bush poured out thoughts about his presidency, his retirement and the decisions he made – some of which he said will appear in a book he’s writing about his eight years in the White House.


The often-tearful meetings he had with relatives of fallen soldiers were "in some ways... very hard and in some ways, it was very uplifting," the Texas Republican said.


About eight people protested Bush's appearance outside the venue, carrying signs that called him a murderer and a traitor. The speech Thursday was one of the first made by the former president since leaving office in January.


Bush, the nation's 43rd president, spoke to 2,500 people about "the fog of war" that followed the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the economic downturn and his return to life as a regular citizen.


"It was a roller coaster of emotions, it really was," Bush said of the terror attacks, according to the Associated Press. "I think about it now at times but I definitely thought about it every day as president."


He talked about the economy, blaming "a lack of responsible regulation" in the lending industry for the recession and said that the Federal National Mortgage Association, known as Fannie Mae, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., or Freddie Mac, shouldn't have engaged in certain financial practices.


"I don't want to sound like a self-serving guy, but we did try to rein them in," Bush said.


He also said he believes he was right to depose Iraq president Saddam Hussein and that it may lead to the spread of democracy throughout the Middle East.


The audience, which gave Bush a warm welcome at his arrival, cheered when he said he wanted to be remembered as a president who "showed up in office with a set of principles and he was unwilling to sacrifice his soul for the sake of popularity."