Colin Powell, the former US Secretary of State, spoke on CBS’ ‘Face the Nation’ on Sunday, denouncing claims that the United States is not as safe under President Barack Obama.
Powell challenged criticisms, including those coming from former Vice President Dick Cheney, that the United States has become more vulnerable because interrogation techniques like waterboarding on terrorists have been prohibited. Powell emphasised that extreme interrogation methods and waterboarding have already been ruled out since the Bush administration, and this rule continues to carry on until today.
Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration established by Former President George Bush is still in operations in America’s airports, he said. He added that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence created during President Bush’s term also continues to work and exist under President Obama.
Powell also emphasised that law enforcement officials and counterterrorism authorities continue to work hard, and policies created during the Bush Administration are still being upheld.
“The bottom line answer is the nation is still at risk. Terrorists are out there. They’re trying to get through. But to suggest that somehow we have become much less safer because of the actions of the administration, I don’t think that’s borne out by the facts”, he said.
Powell noted, however, that he was ‘surprised’ with how the issue involving Christmas Day bombing suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was handled by the US’ various agencies.
As for the Guantanamo Bay prison facility, Powell said it should be closed because it gives the wrong idea to people that America encourages detention facilities or torture.
