INSIDER INTERVIEW

Tuesday, April 21, 2009 12:50 PM

Chertoff Sees 'A Lot Of Continuity'

So far President Obama has absorbed criticism from his right and his left on national security issues. In a recent interview with NationalJournal.com's Alina Selyukh, former Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff declined to join the chorus of conservative disapproval, and praised Obama for facilitating a seamless transition -- though his comments may add fuel to liberal outrage over the apparent continuation of some Bush policies.

NJ: Dick Cheney recently blamed Obama's administration for making the country less safe by turning the fight against terrorism more into a law enforcement problem. Do you agree?

Chertoff: I actually think the best take on this is that of President Bush, who has said he's not going to get in the position of sitting on the shoulder of his successor and starting to criticize. I think that's a very good position.

Speaking more generally, I'm pleased with the fact that President Obama's administration is going forward in a very measured way in looking at all the tools that we've used in dealing with terrorism. The new president has talked about closing Gitmo, but he hasn't been in a rush to do it.... They are not just throwing over everything that went before. They are protecting secrets that need to be protected. They are not relinquishing the authorities that are very important.

NJ: So you don't think the country is less safe?

Chertoff: Right now, from my standpoint there's a lot of continuity. And I think that's a good thing.

Chertoff also discussed cybercrime, border security, Somali pirates and former FEMA Director Michael Brown. Read the full interview here.