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Veep speaks
For the record, here’s what Vice President Cheney said Friday evening about his comment earlier in the week that some interpreted as an endorsement of water boarding to get terrorist suspects to answer questions.
These comments came in a brief chat with reporters aboard Air Force 2 as Cheney headed back to Washington from a campaign swing:
Q: Well, listen, we appreciate you taking a couple of minutes. I guess, just as an initial matter we’d like to ask you to clarify those comments that have now been in the news today concerning …
Cheney: I was being interviewed by a talk show host. I don’t talk about techniques and I wouldn’t. I have said that the interrogation program for a select number of detainees is very important. It has been I think one of the most valuable intelligence programs we have. And I believe it has allowed us to prevent terrorist attacks against the United States. I did not talk about specific techniques involved.
Q: So it was not about water boarding, even though he asked you about dunking in the water?
Cheney: I didn’t say anything about water boarding. Those were all his comments. He didn’t even use that phrase.
Q: He said dunking in the water.
Cheney: I didn’t say anything, he did.
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