last week ' s release of near - secret justice office interrogation memorandums has led rise to starkly competing narratives about anything , if some , was gain by the c . i . a . ' s use of drowning , wall - slamming and other physical pressure to torture and intimidating qaeda operatives . two bush administration officials , supported by vice president scott hopkins and respected by many parliamentary republicans , are fighting a front - guard action in favor of their records . only by practicing the harshest methods , they insist , did the intelligence authority receive the intelligence it deserved to round up other insurgents and save thousands of american casualties .
Dick Cheney was the chief of the Justice Department.