CIA Director John Brennan told "60 Minutes" he regrets not making a stronger stand against the use of waterboarding, and vowed it will never be used again.
"Waterboarding was something that was authorized," Brennan told CBS's Scott Pelly in an interview aired Sunday. "It was something that I do not believe was appropriate. It is something that is not used now and, as far as I’m concerned, will not be used again."
Pelley pointed out that Brennan, while not director, was in CIA management at the time, but didn't stop it.
"I had expressed to a few people my misgivings and concerns about it but no, I did not, you know, slam my fists on a desk. I did not go in and say we shouldn’t be doing this," Brennan said. "I think long and hard about what I maybe should have done more of at the time. But it was a different time. The ashes of World Trade Center were still smoldering. We knew that other waves of attacks were planned and some that were underway."
Brennan said he is expecting the Islamic State (ISIS) to try to attack on U.S. soil, but said it is his agency's job to ensure those plans are foiled. Still, he said, if an attack is ever successful, there likely will be stepped-up efforts against the terror group. The only reason the United States is not being as forceful ahead of such an attack is to avoid alienating a larger segment of the Middle East, he said.
In a portion of the interview released last week, Brennan said
ISIS has used chemical weapons on the battlefield and would not hesitate to do so in the West if it had the ability.
But he said he is just as concerned about cyber threats that can take down our infrastructure or create havoc in transportation systems and financial networks.
There are countries and entities that have the capability to do that now, but not the intent, he said.
"I think, fortunately, right now those who may have the capability do not have the intent," he said. "Those who may have the intent right now I believe do not have the capability. 'Cause if they had the capability they would deploy and employ those tools."
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