In his first public address since leaving the White House, former president George W. Bush has defended torturing detainees of his 'War on Terror', Press TV reported.
The 43rd US president, in a speech to The Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan at Lake Michigan College, said everything he had done in his term was in line with the United States' legal system.
"The first thing you do is ask what's legal?" Bush told an audience of about 2,500 people on Thursday.
"What do the lawyers say is possible? I made the decision, within the law, to get information so I can say to myself, 'I've done what it takes to do my duty to protect the American people.' I can tell you that the information we got saved lives," he argued.
His successor, Barack Obama, earlier banned the harsh interrogation methods used by CIA officials against terror suspects during the Bush administration.
Ever since leaving office, Bush administration officials defended the tough and inhumane measures, including waterboarding that simulates drowning.
The officials have said that the measures against terror suspects saved thousands of lives, while claiming that what they call 'advanced interrogation techniques' did not necessarily amount to torture.
The former president's speech was a reply to recent criticisms of his policies, but he did not directly criticize the current president.
"Nothing I am saying is meant to criticize my successor," Bush said.
"I didn't like it when a former president criticized me, so therefore I am not going to criticize my successor. I wish him all the best," he added.
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