The soon to be former Director of National Intelligence said what?

But wait...I thought these procedures did not work?

But, as first reported by the New York Times' Peter Baker Tuesday night, President Obama's own Director of National Intelligence, former Admiral Dennis Blair, wrote a memo to his staff last week in which he said the methods, some of which are said to be torture by legal and human rights groups, were effective.

“High value information came from interrogations in which those methods were used and provided a deeper understanding of the al Qa’ida organization that was attacking this country," Blair wrote.

Added Blair: “I like to think I would not have approved those methods in the past, but I do not fault those who made the decisions at that time, and I will absolutely defend those who carried out the interrogations within the orders they were given.”

Some interesting info left out of the NY Times article which was produced from a letter Blair sent to his colleagues;

"From 2002 through 2006 when the use of these techniques ended, the leadership of the CIA repeatedly reported their activities both to Executive Branch policymakers and to members of Congress, and received permission to continue to use the techniques."

Hmmm...approved by members of Congress. Which members I wonder? It seems Dems approved of continuing the procedures because it was working.