Cheney: I'm Defending "Little Guys" Against Torture Investigations

Former Vice President Dick Cheney is speaking out against possible investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the harsh interrogation techniques employed by the CIA.

"This is the first time that I can recall that we've had an administration come in, take power, and then suggest using the power of the government against their predecessors, from a legal standpoint," Cheney said in an interview Monday. "Criminal prosecution of lawyers in the Justice Department whose opinions they disagreed with on an important issue. Criminal prosecutions. When was the last time that happened?"

Cheney, who thinks the CIA should release specific memos that show how interrogations allegedly helped bring important information to light, says he wants to avoid a repeat of the Iran-Contra investigations, in which senior officials ducked responsibility, pinning it on more junior-level staffers.

Cheney told the Weekly Standard's Stephen Hayes that he thinks it is important to speak out when "President Obama is wrong on important issues facing the nation."

I went through the Iran-contra hearings and watched the way administration officials ran for cover and left the little guys out to dry. And I was bound and determined that wasn't going to happen this time. I think to George Tenet's credit--I don't agree with George on a lot of stuff--but I think he was of the same view and that's why we had all of these requests coming through for policy guidance and for legal opinions. And this time around I'll do my damndest to defend anybody out there--be they in the agency carrying out the orders or the lawyers who wrote the opinions. I don't know whether anybody else will, but I sure as hell will.

HT to Think Progress, which points out that the Bush officials being implicated are not low-level staffers.

The Bush officials implicated in approving torture were hardly "little" -- they were the senior-most Bush administration officials, such as David Addington, Jay Bybee, and Alberto Gonzales.

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[Fremon]

And, how precisely is helping the "little guy" from investigations help Lyndie England and others involved and convicted of basically "torture"?

[arachne646]

Then Cheney and Bush should take a trip to Spain, or another country where they are charged with War Crimes, and turn themselves in, and that will really take care of the little guys.
I have felt bad for those guards in Abu Ghraib since the pictures came out. They paid for their crimes, but no one outside the USA believed that line about "a few bad apples". Now there is widely corroborated testimony that Abu Ghraib was using standard interrogation methods for US in Iraq. Iraqi prison conditions are much worse now. Congratulations on freedom from Saddam.

[liberal]

.I think that dick Cheney and George Bush should be tried for TREASON.

[HappyMarsden]

"Criminal prosecution of lawyers in the Justice Department whose opinions they disagreed with on an important issue. Criminal prosecutions. When was the last time that happened?"

A. The last time that happened was the last time a U.S. presidential administration instituted a policy of torture against enemy combatants that they tried to whitewash as something lesser than torture. Which, technically, was never, before the George Dubya Bush administration. Of which you were vice-prez.

[lvdragonlady]

Yea sure, like us 'little' guys are going to believe that lie.

[dwedge]

It's unfortunate that he passed on the chance to look out for the "little guys" who were court-martialed at Abu Gharaib and Bagram. Has he made any effort to get their convictions overturned? After all, they were just carrying out Bush-Cheyney policies. Either we punish no one or we make a determination to go after the real criminal who pursued an illegal policy as well as those "lawyers" who provided flimsy rationalizations for breaking the law.

[mjl422]

I'm just waiting for Cheney to break like Jack Nicholson in " A Few Good Men". You know Cheney is dying to say "Yeah I authorized torture on them bastards". He's dying inside that he can't brag about it.

[dididangerlove]

Go away. Nobody likes you and nobody believes you.

[Rolf618]

Who knew Dick had such a great sense of humor? Thats the funniest thing Ive ever heard

[Ken Volok]

Why even gives this guy any attention. The next time I see his name in a news story I hope its either an indictment or an obit. EIGHT YEARS WAS ENOUGH!

[wordvarc]

"Little guys." What demeaning speech!
No cheney. Ask the Abu Gharib guards.
You scapegoated and cast aside the 'little guys' who did your bidding.

[Macready]

dah what .. . what is he angling for . . is he playing I dare you to bring criminal charges against me . . or something . . cheney was never the little guys . . .. they were fodder for his machine

[rockinroll]

OK - Let's prosecute Cheney and Bush! Afterall, it was at their directive that Torture was carried out.
The lawyers were following THEIR Orders!

[LeawoodKansas]

So cute. "Little Guy Dick" or "Little D*ck" for short.

[tailgateshirts]

so hes covering for little guys and offering himself, this big fish, up right??