Richardson: If We’re Releasing Torture Report, We’d Better Make Sure We’re Protected

"It’s probably going to be quite a damaging report, going beyond some of the discussions on torture water boarding, probably other techniques, and the concern is for our security personnel, for our people around the world and our embassies. I think the issue here is, all right, the report is going to come out. I think Senator Feinstein, the chair of the intelligence committee, is going to release it for transparency reasons.

But I think what we have to make sure of is we have enough preparation to protect our personnel around the world, in our embassies, in our installations because there’s going to be demonstrations. The other side is going to use it for propaganda reasons. It’s going to vilify us. It’s not going to make us look good. So it’s a sensitive political as well as a sensitive security issue especially for our personnel overseas, for potential hostages that are just cropping up everywhere ...

I know there’s been very intensive negotiations on how much would [it] be redacted, how much would be released. I think it’s important that the American people know what has happened. That the Congress know. So I’m in favor of disclosure, but at the same time, we have to protect the identity of the CIA people that work for us. I sympathize with what President Bush said. I mean, these are our intelligence officers that are risking their lives. Also, at the same time, we have to be conscious of our constitutional rights to treat people fairly. Water boarding, I wasn’t for it. This was very controversial. What we need to do is strike a balance here. But the worry I have is the demonstrations. Will they spark more than just people out on the street. I think we have to be sure that we are prepared in case there's some violence against our embassies. We don't want another Benghazi."