Statement to Employees by Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, General Mike Hayden on the Veto of the Intelligence Authorization Bill

March 8, 2008 

Following the President’s veto today of the FY 2008 Intelligence Authorization bill, I am sure that the executive and legislative branches will continue to exchange ideas on the legal framework governing interrogations, including interrogations of the most dangerous international terrorists. Whatever the result, our Agency’s position is absolutely clear: CIA will continue to operate within the law, strictly abiding by the decisions of the Republic we protect.

Some of the public commentary has misrepresented the terms of the current debate, implying that only two outcomes are possible—a blanket application of the Army Field Manual or the legalization of torture. As I have said in Congressional testimony, the Army Field Manual does not exhaust the universe of lawful interrogation techniques. There are methods in CIA’s program that have been briefed to our oversight committees, are fully consistent with the Geneva Convention and current US law, and are most certainly not torture.

Although we share the duty of defending America and America’s values, the US Army and CIA clearly have different missions, different capabilities and therefore different procedures. CIA’s program, a tightly controlled and carefully administered national option that goes beyond the Army Field Manual, has been a lawful and effective response to the national security demands that terrorism imposes. It will continue to be so as we work within the boundaries established by our nation’s laws.

Mike Hayden