It's not the spirit in which you put it in place, Mr. President, it's the spirit in which it is abused by others that counts.


July 1st, 2013
08:44 AM ET


George W. Bush: Snowden damaged US; security programs protect civil liberties

CNN Anchor and Correspondent Robyn Curnow sits down with former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush to discuss their humanitarian mission in Zambia, where a clinic that helps diagnose and treat cervical cancer opens today. Curnow asked Bush about his thoughts on Nelson Mandela, Edward Snowden, privacy and his legacy.


On Edward Snowden, former President George W. Bush said, “I know he damaged the country and the Obama administration will deal with it.” He continued, “I think he damaged the security of the country.”


“I put the program in place to protect the country and one of the certainties is civil liberties were guaranteed,” Bush said.


Later in the interview, he added, “Ultimately, history will judge the decisions I made. I won’t be around because it’s going to take a while for the objective historians to show up. And so I’m pretty comfortable with it. I did what I did. I know the spirit in which I did it.”


The full interview airs today on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer at 5pm ET on CNN.