"The [CIA] report documents a troubling program involving enhanced interrogation techniques on terrorism suspects in secret facilities outside the United States, and it reinforces my long-held view that these harsh methods were not only inconsistent with our values as nation," President Obama said.
"That is why I will continue to use my authority as President to make sure we never resort to those methods again," Obama added.
The report has reignited a debate in Washington over what constitutes torture, and whether those working in the administration of former President George W. Bush had been defending the nation from further attacks, or had been trampling on international laws and human rights.
Obama admitted in a statement that "harsh methods" used by CIA agents to interrogate suspected al-Qaeda terrorists "did not serve our broader counterterrorism efforts or our national security interests."
In conclusion, Obama said he hoped that Tuesday's report would help put the CIA's "enhanced interrogation techniques" in the past, and pledged to continue defending American people against terrorism.
Security has been boosted at US facilities around the world this week ahead of the release of the Intelligence Committee's much-anticipated report, amid fears that new evidence of waterboarding and other forms of torture will incite revenge attacks against the United States.
