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Should President Obama claim credit for killing the Al Qaeda leader? Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey responds
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When you're going from base here in Afghanistan.
Our troops launched the operation that killed -- been -- The goal that I set to defeat al-Qaeda and denied a chance to rebuild.
Is now within our reach.
Welcome to The Journal Editorial Report I'm -- -- ego that was President Obama Tuesday marking the one year anniversary.
Of the death of Osama bin Laden in a surprise trip to Afghanistan as just one of the ways -- president and his reelection campaign have commemorated the killing.
Also releasing an ad suggesting rival Mitt Romney might not have done the same.
In a Wall Street Journal op Ed this week former attorney general Michael -- -- says it's hard to imagine Lincoln or Eisenhower taking such a victory judgment -- Joins me now good to have you back on the program tragedy here.
So.
President's advertise their accomplishments especially when their running for -- -- that's what they do why is what President Obama has done different from that tradition.
Because they say that real leadership consists of taking less credit than you deserve and more blame and you deserve.
And -- some.
President Obama after his election said that the president he wanted to be most like was Lincoln.
If you take a look at Lincoln's record.
The night after the surrender of Robert.
Responsibility for the victory instead looked ahead to reconstruction.
And advocated.
Black -- something that got killed because John Wilkes Booth was in the audience outside the White House home.
Earlier in his administration took responsibility for the mistakes of general McClellan.
Defense Secretary.
His if his to his secretary of defense right.
Constantly.
Took responsibility for things that failed.
Gave credit to others -- things that succeeded.
Finish it let's just go back to 2004.
President George W.
Bush running for reelection in the wake of 9/11 they ran -- and his campaign called tested.
Which to me it's really advertised what they said was his leadership.
After.
The attack on on the World Trade Center and -- -- some footage of the burning towers.
How is this different what Obama is doing saying -- -- -- we we got bin Laden finally how's it different from President Bush taking credit for his post.
Attack leadership.
I don't know that he was so much taking credit as describing something that he had been exposed to that was not of his making and had survived.
Here you in the clip that you saw and in the clip you might have shown from his announcement of the killing of been -- On it was high need high mind.
The perpendicular -- was very much in evidence.
What about his his suggestion his campaign's suggestion I guess he made it personally that Mitt Romney might not have have done that have done the same.
It's it's hard to find a word other -- outrageous to describe them and I think the memo that went from Leon Panetta.
To admiral -- this is why the -- Panetta was CIA director right for the attack before the raid right describing the ravens authority.
As limited to the risk profile that he had presented to the president.
Is very revealing of the attitude that really -- the time.
How should a commander in chief.
Behave -- -- he's saying that Lincoln is the model is that is that what you should do -- the model Kennedy is the model Eisenhower's the model lot of people the model.
What George W.
Bush -- them.
Well don't -- -- -- be don't think George Bush ever took credit what about the mission accomplished banner that was not a banner that he put up that was put up by other people and if you look at the remarks that he -- at the time.
They rule by way of giving credit to the truth.
So this is that the mistake that the president is making is essentially saying look this is is taking -- exorbitant in your view an exorbitant amount of credit.
Whereas if they've gone wrong the implication of the memos and things -- the blame would have been on the people who -- executing the policy correct.
OK let me talk to but another issue terrorists that's come up in the news this week which is the that what happened with the intelligence leading to the bin Laden captured there's a suggestion by two democratic senators Dianne Feinstein.
And Carl Levin.
That in fact enhanced interrogation techniques waterboarding and such.
Did not lead to -- did not produce evidence that led to the old -- the bin Laden captured they put it this whether CIA learned of the existence of the courier.
His true name and location through means I'm related to the CIA detention and interrogation program.
Based on what you knew learn when you were attorney general is that correct.
That is a half truth that you really designed to irritate anybody who knows the other.
That's.
Yes the CIA knew about the name before it was disclosed like Khalid Sheikh Mohamed.
However that information -- on exploited because it came from an insignificant source.
When it came from college Sheikh Mohamed after he was subjected to harsh interrogation techniques.
They followed it up and found that the -- was still active.
They then went back to Khalid Sheikh Mohamed who by then have his wits about him -- -- -- again about this.
And he said oh he's been out of it for some time.
That was a line they knew it was a long way and because he had lied about it that he enhanced even more the significance of the information.
So the information didn't become significant until they learned about it from -- added significance was increased by the fact that he lied about it.
They learned about it after enhanced interrogation -- So you're it's based on your experience you think the enhanced interrogation techniques have absolutely been critical.
To be progress we've made against -- cut it with three people who were subjected to all for me all the fuss is about.
Three people who were subjected to the most extreme -- -- comment.
Right.
I was -- -- I was -- -- and I'll go right you mom -- -- the architect of the Cole attack Iraq.
We got approves -- information from all three we arrested on -- Ramzi bin Al Shiva hole.
-- -- a whole rogues gallery of terrorists who prepared to carry off attacks Mike McConnell.
The director of former national -- of intelligence correct.
Said that there are people walking around today.
Who would not be walking around today if those techniques had been used.
Richard -- this is -- it's not gonna end but thanks for being here very much.
