CIA won't restart a detention, interrogation programme: Haspel
10 May 2018 4:09 AM IST
Washington DC: Gina Haspel, President Donald Trump's nominee as the CIA Director and facing criticism for being involved in detention and interrogation techniques, will promise not to restart any such controversial programme, according to the excerpts of her prepared remarks which she will tell before a Senate panel.
The 62-year-old veteran Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) official will on Wednesday appear before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence for her confirmation hearing.
She has been facing criticism from lawmakers and human rights activists for being involved in the 2002-2005 enhanced interrogation programme post 9/11 at a secret CIA prison in Thailand where detainees were tortured by waterboarding.
"I understand that many people around the country want to know about what are my views on CIA's former detention and interrogation programme. I have views on this issue, and I want to be clear," according to the excerpts.
"Having served in that tumultuous time, I can offer you my personal commitment, clearly and without reservation, that under my leadership CIA will not restart such a detention and interrogation programme," she will say, according to the prepared testimony. Trump, on the eve of her confirmation hearing, also praised her for being tough on terror.
"Gina Haspel, my highly respected nominee to lead the CIA, is being praised for the fact that she has been, and always will be, TOUGH ON TERROR!
"This is a woman who has been a leader wherever she has gone. The CIA wants her to lead them into America's bright and glorious future!" he said.
If confirmed, she would be the first female director of the US' spy agency.
"By any standard, my life at the Agency and it has been my life has exceeded all of my expectations, from that January day when I took my oath to on Wednesday.
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