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CIA nominee John Brennan faces Senate hearing CIA nominee John Brennan defends drone strikes
(35 minutes later)
CIA director nominee John Brennan has defended the US drone-strikes programme at a Senate confirmation hearing.CIA director nominee John Brennan has defended the US drone-strikes programme at a Senate confirmation hearing.
Mr Brennan said the US only took such action as a last resort and was careful to prevent civilian deaths.Mr Brennan said the US only took such action as a last resort and was careful to prevent civilian deaths.
The hearing was repeatedly interrupted by protesters as the nominee began to deliver his testimony.The hearing was repeatedly interrupted by protesters as the nominee began to deliver his testimony.
The session comes after lawmakers were to receive secret memos on the rationale for drone strikes on Americans working with al-Qaeda abroad. The session comes after lawmakers received secret memos on the rationale for drone strikes on Americans working with al-Qaeda abroad.
Mr Brennan, 57, who is President Barack Obama's top White House counter-terrorism adviser, was a top CIA official under President George W Bush. Mr Brennan, 57, who is President Barack Obama's top White House counter-terrorism adviser, was a senior CIA official under President George W Bush.
'Significant concerns''Significant concerns'
As he began to deliver his prepared remarks on Thursday, he was interrupted several times by protesters, prompting committee chair Senator Dianne Feinstein to order a recess.As he began to deliver his prepared remarks on Thursday, he was interrupted several times by protesters, prompting committee chair Senator Dianne Feinstein to order a recess.
We know that that Senate intelligence committee is deeply frustrated at its lack of, well, intelligence. And we know that several senators are very concerned about leaks.We know that that Senate intelligence committee is deeply frustrated at its lack of, well, intelligence. And we know that several senators are very concerned about leaks.
The protestors who interrupted the opening of the hearing served a purpose for John Brennan. They misunderstood, he said, the care we take on the drone programme.The protestors who interrupted the opening of the hearing served a purpose for John Brennan. They misunderstood, he said, the care we take on the drone programme.
Mr Brennan spoke clearly and often with vigour. Even so, he ducked and weaved at times, leading to the accusation of stonewalling from Senator Ron Wyden. Had "enhanced interrogation" techniques led to the capture of Osama Bin Laden? Back came a long answer that really didn't address the question.Mr Brennan spoke clearly and often with vigour. Even so, he ducked and weaved at times, leading to the accusation of stonewalling from Senator Ron Wyden. Had "enhanced interrogation" techniques led to the capture of Osama Bin Laden? Back came a long answer that really didn't address the question.
He said "enhanced interrogation", i.e. waterboarding and sleep deprivation, was something that he had objected to in private at the time, though back in 2007 he had said it saved lives. Now, in the light of a Senate Democrats' report, he wasn't so sure.He said "enhanced interrogation", i.e. waterboarding and sleep deprivation, was something that he had objected to in private at the time, though back in 2007 he had said it saved lives. Now, in the light of a Senate Democrats' report, he wasn't so sure.
"At this point, senator," he said, "I don't know what the truth is.""At this point, senator," he said, "I don't know what the truth is."
One of the demonstrators held a sign saying "Brennan = Drone Killing".One of the demonstrators held a sign saying "Brennan = Drone Killing".
During later questions, Mr Brennan said some Americans believe that strikes are used to punish for past transgressions.During later questions, Mr Brennan said some Americans believe that strikes are used to punish for past transgressions.
"Nothing could be further from the truth," he said. "We only take such actions as a last resort to save lives when there's no other alternative to taking an action that's going to mitigate that threat.""Nothing could be further from the truth," he said. "We only take such actions as a last resort to save lives when there's no other alternative to taking an action that's going to mitigate that threat."
Correspondents say there has been no suggestion that members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence object to Mr Brennan's nomination.Correspondents say there has been no suggestion that members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence object to Mr Brennan's nomination.
He is expected to be confirmed by the panel and later by the full Senate.He is expected to be confirmed by the panel and later by the full Senate.
On the eve of Thursday's hearing, the committee href="http://intelligence.senate.gov/130207/prehearing.pdf" >released Mr Brennan's answers to some preliminary questions. When asked about waterboarding, Mr Brennan said it was "reprehensible and should never be done again", but declined several times to say whether it was torture.
Mr Brennan said he "had significant concerns and personal objections" about extreme interrogation techniques used by the CIA, adding he was "aware of the program but did not play a role in its creation, execution or oversight". "I had expressed my personal objections and views to some agency colleagues," he said during the hearing.
On drones, Mr Brennan acknowledged "instances when, regrettably and despite our best efforts, civilians have been killed". "But I did not try to stop it, because it was something that was being done in a different part of the agency under the authority of others."
"It is exceedingly rare, and much rarer than many allege," he added. He added that during his time at the CIA during the Bush administration, he had been told that waterboarding and other extreme interrogation methods produced "valuable information".
Drone programme 'logical' But he said that after reading a 300-page summary of a 6,000-page report on CIA interrogation and detention policies, he did "not know what the truth is".
Mr Brennan's hearing comes a day after the Department of Justice agreed to send Congress documents laying out the legal rationale for targeting and killing US citizens who are suspected of working with terror groups.Mr Brennan's hearing comes a day after the Department of Justice agreed to send Congress documents laying out the legal rationale for targeting and killing US citizens who are suspected of working with terror groups.
Senator Feinstein, who chairs the Senate committee, said: "It is critical for the committee's oversight function to fully understand the legal basis for all intelligence and counterterrorism operations."
The justice department acted after NBC News published a leaked internal memo explaining some of the legal arguments.The justice department acted after NBC News published a leaked internal memo explaining some of the legal arguments.
The CIA has carried out drone strikes in Yemen, where three American citizens linked to al-Qaeda have been killed: Anwar al-Awlaki, his 16-year-old-son and Samir Khan.The CIA has carried out drone strikes in Yemen, where three American citizens linked to al-Qaeda have been killed: Anwar al-Awlaki, his 16-year-old-son and Samir Khan.
Recent opinion polls have suggested that the US public generally supports the drone programme, especially when compared with the possibility of ground assault.Recent opinion polls have suggested that the US public generally supports the drone programme, especially when compared with the possibility of ground assault.
Mr Brennan was considered for the top post at the intelligence agency in 2008.Mr Brennan was considered for the top post at the intelligence agency in 2008.
But he withdrew his name from consideration amid protests over public statements he made on the CIA's use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" such as waterboarding, which are viewed by many as torture. But he withdrew his name from consideration amid protests over public statements he made on the CIA's use of waterboarding, viewed by many as torture.