And in his first major interview since leaving office, former President George Bush has defended the Iraq invasion and admitted he approved the waterboarding of prisoners. Bush spoke to NBC as part of a promotional campaign around his memoir Decision Points, which hits bookstores today. Part of last night’s interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer focused on waterboarding.
Matt Lauer: “Why is waterboarding legal, in your opinion?”
President Bush: “Because the lawyers said it was legal, said it did not fall within the Anti-Torture Act. I’m not a lawyer. And — but you got to trust the judgment of people around you. And I do.”
Lauer: “You say it’s legal, and the lawyers told me.”
Bush: “Yeah… First of all, we used this technique on three people. Captured a lot of people and used it on three. We gained valuable information to protect the country, and it was the right thing to do, as far as I’m concerned.”
Lauer: “So, if it’s legal, President Bush, then if an American is taken into custody in a foreign country, not necessarily a uniformed American” —
Bush: “Look, I’m not going to debate the issue, Matt. I really” —
Lauer: “I’m just asking. Would it be OK for a foreign country to waterboard an American citizen?”
Bush: “It’s — all I ask is that people read the book. And they can reach the same conclusion if they would have made the same decision I made or not.”
Lauer: “You’d make the same decision again today?”
Bush: “Yeah, I would.”