Poll: Twenty Percent Of Americans Support Torturing Terrorist Suspects

A CNN poll released on Wednesday revealed that roughly 20 percent of the public said the interrogation techniques used by the Bush administration constituted torture but support use of the techniques on terrorist suspects regardless.

The figure, somewhat buried in the release of the poll, helps explains why, as CNN Polling Director Keating Holland says, "a majority don't want to see former Bush officials investigated."

Six out of every ten people surveyed said they believed that the interrogation techniques used by the Bush White House -- including waterboarding -- were a "form of torture." One out of every five of those individuals, nevertheless, thought the application of these techniques on suspected terrorists was justified. Fifty percent of all respondents said they approved of the former administration's use of "harsh interrogation procedures," including the waterboard.

The findings provide a rather frank insight into how a substantial portion of the country approaches the debate over counter-terrorism policies and the suggestion that an investigation should be launched should it be proven that laws were broken. Only 42 percent of respondents said they believed Congress should conduct an investigation of the Bush administration officials who authorized the use of those procedures; 57 percent said no. The same percentage supported an independent panel investigation, with 55 percent opposing that forum as well.

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[slvrfox857]

Doesn't that mean that 80% do not support torture? Can't we just pretend that tiny minority of the truly uncivilized don't exist and move on for peace?

[mdmurphyla]

No. The article is much more alarming. That is only 20% of those that actually believe it is torture (60%). 40 percent dont even think waterboarding is torture. Add 40 percent plus 20 percent of 60 percent and you have more than half the country that thinks waterboarding is either legal or, even if illegal, still ok.

Frightening.

[Hawaii5-0]

Waterboarding IS torture. Torture is illegal in the US. This fact should not be in debate. Bush and Cheney have admitted to sanctioning waterboarding/torture. It's a fact that laws were broken no matter what Cheney claims. We have also signed international treaties banning torture. So we either abide by our laws and international laws, or show the rest of the world that we only obey the laws that are convenient.

[sposton]

The magical 20% - the same people who were willing to go off the cliff with George Bush.

[lovethesinner]

That's what I was thinking. That number is really a measure of the number of people that have been successfully brainwashed by Fox News and the Republican spin machine. Cross referenced with age and location I'll bet they are over 65, and live in that reliably red section of the election map.

[HonorJusticeTruth]

When that twenty percent can tell me how they know if the person being interrogated has knowledge he or she could divulge, and that no one is taking sadistic pleasure in doing this, and that they themselves would be willing to be interrogated in such a manner for the sake of national security, then I might briefly listen before I walk away and shake my head knowing that these people have never understood the Constitution, the rule of law, or that what America stands for cannot be a convenience when it makes us feel good but otherwise anything goes.

[GLT21]

to the 20%: First will tor ture them next It will be you for spitting on the sidewalk.

Show me a country that tor tures and does not tor ture its citizens.

Thanks Bus h the tor turer. NOT!

[lizt]

Just like the warrantless wiretapping. First it was suspected terrorists. Then it was everyone.

[NWBrunette]

These must be the same 20% that worship the vacuous emanations from george's mouth.

[Incumbent]

That same 20% must also support the torture of our soldiers when they're being held captive. What's good for the goose is good for the gander, after all. Way to support our troops, you twenty percent!

Myself, I don't want any American troops EVER subjected to torture, and that's why I don't support torturing anyone that we capture. You can't have it both ways. Unless you're a hypocrite.

[brandnewstuff]

The 3% must be from Victoria Texas Home of Bush Family Friends - Banking and OIL-they give- only about thier damnselves- Slave owners Love Torture$$

[imjustawitchywoman]

And 23% still think Bush was a great President.

Which means that 3% of the people who approved of Bush's Presidency and Policies......actually have a conscience when it comes to torture.

[wtheman]

Is that the same 20% that call themselves republicans? Clarification please.

[regellner]

This is the same 20% that still supported Bush even after Bush "checked out" last summer and decided to take a six month vacation at the end of his term.

[davism97]

20% of Americans were English loyalists during the American revolution as well ...

[mam]

That would be the same 20% in any population who are authoritarian personalities (and the same ones who still love Dubya).

[CitizenJ]

It's a big mystery what 20% of the country that is..........

[DJ23]

The damage done on 9/11 was more than just the towers coming down and 3,000+ lives lost.

It's a sad time for this country when we have US citizens arguing in favor of torture.

Mainly because of fear.

The terrorists that attacked on 9/11 us would consider this their true "Mission Accomplished".