Bush defends interrogation policies

While giving a speech yesterday to the Economic Club of Southwest Michigan, former President Bush defended his decision to allow harsh interrogations of suspected terror suspects after the 9/11 attacks.
In his wide ranging remarks, which included a Q&A session, the statement most likely to pop out is: “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. I can tell you, the information gained saved lives.”
Although these remarks are along the same lines as statements that his former Vice President, Dick Cheney, has made in recent weeks -- including a televised rebuttal last week to President Obama's own National Security speech -- Bush refused to criticize the current administration saying he had his opinions but “there are plenty of people who will wade in, trust me, [I've seen it] first hand.”
Although last week's national security debate -- with all it's tough talk on prisoner transfers, the gray area's forming around the torture discussion, and whether or not the country is safe under the new administration -- have largely moved to the background in the face of a looming Supreme Court confirmation. One thing is for sure: the debate may be tabled for now, but it is not over.
More speculation will arise, especially in the wake of the current tensions in North Korea, when President Bush's memoirs are published and more data becomes available, and whether the current administrations policies fail or succeed.