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Washington:
Days after US President Barack Obama termed some interrogation techniques approved by Bush administration as torture, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said the earlier regime would not have sanctioned anything against law or the nation's international obligation.
At a Washington School, Rice said Bush would not have authorised anything illegal. "He was also very clear that we would do nothing -- nothing -- that was against the law or against our obligations internationally," she was quoted as saying.
The Obama Administration has been very critical of the interrogation techniques approved by the former president against the arrested terror suspects.
Soon after coming to power the Obama abolished all those harsh interrogation techniques, including water boarding, which he termed as "torture" during a press conference last week marking the completion of his 100 days in office.
This is for the first time that Rice has come out in open in defense of the Bush Administration's policy on interrogation. Rice said Bush was "only willing to authorize policies that were legal in order to protect the country" in the wake of 9/11.
"I hope people understand that it was a struggle, it was a difficult time," Rice said.
"We were all terrified of another attack on this country because September 11 was the worst day of my life in government -- watching 3,000 Americans die because these people attacked us."
"Even under those most difficult circumstances, the president was not prepared to do something illegal," Rice said.
At a Washington School, Rice said Bush would not have authorised anything illegal. "He was also very clear that we would do nothing -- nothing -- that was against the law or against our obligations internationally," she was quoted as saying.
The Obama Administration has been very critical of the interrogation techniques approved by the former president against the arrested terror suspects.
Soon after coming to power the Obama abolished all those harsh interrogation techniques, including water boarding, which he termed as "torture" during a press conference last week marking the completion of his 100 days in office.
This is for the first time that Rice has come out in open in defense of the Bush Administration's policy on interrogation. Rice said Bush was "only willing to authorize policies that were legal in order to protect the country" in the wake of 9/11.
"I hope people understand that it was a struggle, it was a difficult time," Rice said.
"We were all terrified of another attack on this country because September 11 was the worst day of my life in government -- watching 3,000 Americans die because these people attacked us."
"Even under those most difficult circumstances, the president was not prepared to do something illegal," Rice said.
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