Former CIA Director Hayden defends intelligence community's work to repel attacks on country

FILE - In this May 8, 2006 file photo, then-Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden speaks in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington after President Bush announced he was his choice to replace outgoing CIA Director Porter Goss. The head of the CIA during President George W. Bush’s second term says “I didn’t lie” to Congress about harsh interrogations of terrorism suspects. Retired Gen. Michael Hayden does say the intelligence community labored after Sept. 11, 2001 to repel further attacks against the U.S. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File) (The Associated Press)

WASHINGTON – The head of the CIA during President George W. Bush's second term says "I didn't lie" to Congress about harsh interrogations of terrorism suspects.

Retired Gen. Michael Hayden does say the intelligence community labored after Sept. 11, 2001 to repel further attacks against the U.S.

Hayden tells NBC's "Today" show he advocated keeping Congress informed of what the intelligence community was doing. He said his objective "was to get these people to be part of the game."

Asked if Americans have the right to be appalled by the revelations in the Senate Intelligence Committee report about brutal interrogation tactics like waterboarding, Hayden said he didn't know.

But he added that "it's probably a good thing" the public now knows what efforts the CIA was making on its behalf.