Zeldin Releases Statement on US Senate's CIA Report

Press Release

released the following statement in response to yesterday's release of the report on the Detention and Interrogation Program of the Central Intelligence Agency:

"The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence chose to release yesterday a very scathing report on the Detention and Interrogation Program of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Much of my personal analysis is partially informed by my background in the U.S. Army as a Military Intelligence Officer and JAG attorney. I have a lot of respect for the law as well as the usefulness of actionable intelligence, especially when American lives and other interests are very much at risk. Over the course of the next few days, I look forward to the opportunity to thoroughly review this report.

Many who previously were aware of this report before it's release are detailing it as incomplete, biased and inaccurate. Much has been said as to the accuracy of the opinions described in the report.

From my initial review since yesterday, it appears to contain descriptions of several different techniques used previously that are no longer permissible tactics. The balance when deciding whether or not to employ harsh interrogation tactics is most often measured with a strong consideration for the benefit of protecting American lives and other interests.

One of the big questions I have is whether the Committee's conclusion that actionable intelligence wasn't produced is in fact accurate. I am very highly skeptical that this conclusion of the Committee could possibly be accurate.

My primary concern with the release of the report is for the safety and security of Americans around the world, especially our Armed Forces deployed abroad. For that reason alone, I likely would not have wanted this report to have been released as is at this time.

Hopefully something positive will come from the debate about the best path forward, however, we must always remember that following September 11th, 2001, our nation was faced with a great challenge to chase down and eliminate a terrorist threat that caused the largest loss of American lives in one moment ever on our soil.
I supported then as I would support in the future, greater leverage for our nation to be able to track down and destroy any individuals or government who dares to threaten our security like we saw on September 11th, 2001.

Our intelligence gathering capabilities must always be as strong as possible to the fullest possible extent allowable under the law. That extent will forever be debated and we must not in that debate weaken our ability to keep this country safe and free. We must be humane, but in our pursuit, we must also not tie our own hands behind our back. This is why, while I will never give a blanket endorsement of any and all creative tactics one can think of, I will give great deference to our interrogators to have the training, experience, leverage and tools necessary to protect America."

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