April 20 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama defended his decision to release memos detailing harsh interrogation techniques used by the CIA and told agency employees that they will have his full support.

“I know that the last few days have been difficult,” Obama told about 1,000 employees of the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia. “Don’t be discouraged’ that we have to acknowledge potentially we’ve made some mistakes.”

Obama went to the agency’s headquarters for the first time since taking office following his administration’s decision to release legal memos that guided the CIA’s use of “enhanced” interrogation methods used on suspected terrorists.

The memos show that Justice Department lawyers authorized the CIA to use such techniques as sleep deprivation, slapping, nudity and waterboarding, which simulates drowning. The memos, written from 2002 to 2005, were released in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Obama has ruled out using such methods in the future.

“I’m sure that sometimes it seems as if that means we’re operating with one hand tied behind our back,” Obama said. “What makes the United States special, and what makes you special, is precisely the fact that we are willing to uphold our values and our ideals even when it’s hard, not just when it’s easy.”

No Prosecutions

The president and Attorney General Eric Holder have said there will be no prosecutions of government interrogators who acted under the guidance, issued during the administration of former President George W. Bush.

Obama said he allowed the release of the memos because of “exceptional circumstances,” including that much of the information was already in the public domain.

He promised he would fight to protect the integrity of classified information. In an indirect jab at the Bush administration, Obama vowed his administration “will protect your identities and your security as you vigorously pursue your missions.”

Lewis “Scooter” Libby, a top aide to former Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted in 2007 of lying to investigators probing the 2003 leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity. Plame’s husband, former Ambassador Joe Wilson, was a critic of Bush’s plan to invade Iraq.

Before addressing CIA employees, Obama held a private meeting with CIA Director Leon Panetta and Deputy Director Stephen Kappes.

To contact the reporters on this story: Roger Runningen in Langley, Virginia, at rrunningen@bloomberg.net; Justin Blum in Washington at jblum4@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: April 20, 2009 16:34 EDT