John McCain 'Very Disappointed' By GOP Candidates' Endorsement Of Waterboarding

The Republican presidential candidates, save former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), announced during Saturday night's GOP debate that they would reinstitute waterboarding if elected president, arguing that it is an "enhanced interrogation technique" and therefore doesn't violate the Geneva Convention's ban against acts of torture.

On Sunday evening, President Barack Obama chastised the candidates for that stance, noting the damage waterboarding has done for America's reputation and its standing in the world.

"It's contrary to America's traditions," he said. "It's contrary to our ideals. That's not who we are. That's not how we operate. We don't need it in order to prosecute the war on terrorism. And we did the right thing by ending that practice."

The Republican senator who is best known for criticizing the practice, and the man who challenged Obama in 2008, expressed his disappointment Monday morning as well.

"Very disappointed by statements at SC GOP debate supporting waterboarding," Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) tweeted. "Waterboarding is torture."

McCain was vocal in his opposition to waterboarding even during the Bush years. But his tweet Monday is a reminder that the 2012 election will likely raise a new policy dispute that Obama must address: the question of whether or not Bush-era interrogation policies -- policies that were ended by President Bush himself -- should be re-instituted.

Comments

[zeephyyr]

08:08 AM on 11/28/2011

Hasn't anybody notice that this article says exactly the opposite of what it should say? Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman didn't say they would reinstitute waterboarding but rather the other way round:

"We diminish our standing in the world and the values that we project which include liberty, democracy, human rights, and open markets when we torture," Huntsman said.
"We should not torture. Waterboarding is torture. We dilute ourselves down like a whole lot of other countries. And we lose that ability to project values that a lot of people in corners of this world are still relying on the United States to stand up for them."

"Yes, torture is illegal," Paul responded. "Waterboarding is torture. And it's illegal under international law and under our law. It's also immoral."

After adding that torture often produced unreliable information, Paul continued, "I think it's uncivilized and has no practical advantages and is really un-American to accept on principle that we will torture people that we capture."

[heyoka]

12:20 AM on 11/22/2011

As I recall, somewhere during the debate about waterboarding during the Bush years, it was pointed out that the United States tried, convicted, and executed some Japanese generals for waterboarding after we had defeated Japan in WWII.

[Charles Sutherland]

12:22 AM on 11/21/2011

I can't believe we're even having a debate about this to begin with! It completely violates the spirit of the constitution!

[94613]

03:32 PM on 11/19/2011

Romney, [divinity student deferment(­s)] waterboard­ed in the surf at the Cote d'Azur Hilton and other locales in France at the same time McCain was waterboard­ed at the Hanoi Hilton.

"Its a question of semantics"­, quipes the Squire from the Bay State.....

That old inverse relationsh­ip between posturing and serving on the stump.

Mitt shares with McCain, "I was there in spirit."
----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­-----
"I really don’t recall thinking about political positions when I was knocking at the door in France" as a missionary­, Romney said. "I was supportive of my country. I longed in many respects to actually be in Vietnam and be representi­ng our country there and in some ways it was frustratin­g not to feel like I was there as part of the troops that were fighting in Vietnam."

http://www­.boston.co­m/news/pol­itics/2008­/specials/­romney/art­icles/part­1_side_2/

[jp1850]

02:45 AM on 11/17/2011

Apparently none of these candidates has a clue about the military's statements about torture. That, or they just like to use torture as a PR tool.

[Berettasskeeter]

01:19 PM on 11/18/2011

The military's statements were put on them by politicians, NOT adopted out of any high moral sense! OTOH, the military has never tortured, by policy.
Semper fi

[Rich Cash]

12:10 AM on 11/17/2011

I can understand and sympathize with McCain's horror of torture and his objection to water-boarding. The man went through seven years of torture at the hands of the North Vietnamese. However, water-boarding, although an extreme form of interrogation, is not disabling. It's only used to extract information from known terrorists and has saved unknown numbers of American lives. Those lives might have included your wife as she shopped at the mall or your husband as he commuted home from work. It may have included your kids at school or your parents at church. If even one innocent American life is saved, it's worth it.

[BaPef Amheh]

09:21 AM on 11/18/2011

Actually people have testified before congress that the use of water boarding has not resulted in any useful information.

[Berettasskeeter]

01:19 PM on 11/18/2011

Others have testified before Congress that waterboarding works like a charm!
Semper fi

[weeeezzll]

04:47 PM on 11/16/2011

I wonder if Cain would be willing to submit to water-boarding interrogation to determine his innocence regarding the sexual harassment scandal?

[Mr Anonymous]

10:44 PM on 11/15/2011

According to some people in his own party he's "too clost to the situation."

Remember that from a couple years ago?

[Jackylin]

10:40 PM on 11/15/2011

American are too concern about the interrogation techniques,there has been universally acquiesce various torture in the process of interrogation at most of countries.The genuine purposes to put the issue onto presidential debates is to raise the attention on how legal country US are, even if on treating terrorists.Actually there should be some more immoral and violated interrogation be recognized by senior officials.

[Zork4]

11:53 PM on 11/16/2011

America stands for freedom and justice although we fall short form time to time. I don't care if some other countries think torture is fine. I'll go with General Petraeus who agrees with McCain and the majority of intelligence experts that torture is ineffective and that making it US policy places our troops at risk.

[jp1850]

02:13 AM on 11/17/2011

What is your country's policy on torture? Are your leaders and citizens all share the same view, or do they disagree as we do in the US?

[Jackylin]

03:58 AM on 11/17/2011

My country is China,where implicit culture lead to implement the underground "policy",although they are not legal,but it has been acquiesce.But US and China is quite different in many aspects,especially US is undergoing warfare reality ,if they are recognize the torture to be part of judicial system,they would gonna put American troop on more hazardous situations.

[Jackylin]

04:17 AM on 11/17/2011

My country is China,people don't agree with harsh interrogations,But we have totally different national state.We have implicit culture which directly lead to more underground deals.But I disagree torture should be illegally accepted.Cos that act will put US oversea troop in more hazardous situations.Your president is the person equipped with foresight and adept diplomatic capabilities.BTW,none of those republican contenders would has the competence to be next president.

[Atwill]

09:02 PM on 11/15/2011

What is wrong with you people? We are talking about terrorist here. Scum who would love nothing more then to break into your house and slaughter your whole family, grandma to baby. Were you all asleep on 9 -11? I have no problem with first trying to your way, with all kinds of talk, diplomacy, tea parties, whatever. But if that doesnt work, i say get out the chainsaw and start hacking off limbs. American lives is far more important then the comfort of some terrorist.

[James Albrecht]

12:05 AM on 11/16/2011

What's wrong with us? We believe in American ideals, that's what's wrong with us. We believe that we are better than the barbarians and will not stoop to their gutter-level moral debasement. We believe that captives in war are to be treated with dignity, even if we find their ideology and tactics abhorrent. That's what makes us different and our cultural traditions better than theirs. That moral center is exactly what we are fighting for. That's what makes the fight worthwhile. Give that up and what do we have left? Why do you care about America? What values are you defending?

[Atwill]

10:41 PM on 11/16/2011

my kids lives and your kids lives. thats what. i am sorry if you and others dont love your kids enough to protect them.

[James Albrecht]

11:39 PM on 11/16/2011

Atwill, you impoverish your children by giving them a culture that is willing to stoop to anything to defend itself. Better to go down defending an ideal than to survive having violated it.

[toivo44]

03:58 PM on 11/16/2011

It has been proved that torture is not effective as a tool for extracting intelligence. Those being tortured will simply tell their tormentors what they think they want to hear.

[Berettasskeeter]

01:22 PM on 11/18/2011

It has NOT been proved. It has been stated by politicians, but the only interrogators allowed to answer questions have been the tame ones!
Semper fi

[Karen L B]

11:22 AM on 11/15/2011

FBI Interrogator Ali Soufan concluded that waterboarding DOES NOT work, and he backed up his declaration with facts and documentation from his hundreds of hands-on attempts. In fact, 60 minutes did a story on Mr. Soufan's experience in regards to interrogation methods. You can google this 60 minutes episode and hear his side of the story in regards to waterboarding. I understand John McCain's response and disappointment in the GOP candidates' belief on waterboarding. The "motley crew" of GOP hopefuls is disappointing, if not embarrassing. Boy do I wish John McCain was running in 2012! He is the Real Leader America Needs!

[Kathie Shaffer]

07:14 PM on 11/15/2011

i totally agree !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jp1850]

02:20 AM on 11/17/2011

I liked McCain until he went berserk in 08 trying to win over Bush republicans. He's one of the only legislators left in DC willing to do what it takes to serve the best interests of Americans -- and that means working across the aisle.

[Michael Overboe]

08:05 AM on 11/15/2011

Any supporters should have to try it first…on the receiving end.

[Zeena Pawlicki]

09:28 PM on 11/15/2011

THE POOR PEOPLE OF 911 WENT THROUGH A MUCH WORSE FATE,SO DO NOT SIT THERE ALL SMUG AND TALK ABOUT WATERBOARDING.THE LOW LIFES WHO WERE WATERBOARDED ARE STILL ALIVE..DID YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE IN THAT BUILDING.BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT BECAUSE OF WATERBOARDING,AND YOUR KING GETS THE CREDIT.ASK THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO DIED.MY GUESS IS 99.9% WOULD DISAGREE WITH YOU.

[bklynsparrow]

12:37 AM on 11/16/2011

What makes you think waterboarding got that information? How about undercover work, surveillance, computer hacking, painstaking research and informants? As for "Your King?" Are you referring to PRESIDENT Obama? The man a majority of the country elected? That's how it works in democracy. But maybe, as someone who isn't American, you might not know that .

[Zork4]

12:03 AM on 11/17/2011

Um, Bin Laden was not caught by using waterboarding.

Public policy should be arrived at for better reasons than revenge, if it worked I would still oppose it to protect our service people on active duty. If it worked General Petraeus would support it. that he doesn't is good enough for me.

I'm sorry for your loss, but the feelings of the 9/11 families are not a good reason to torture suspects, who may be innocent.

[Berettasskeeter]

01:26 PM on 11/18/2011

I did. It is frightening, but has ZERO lasting physical effects.
Semper fi

[Michael Overboe]

02:27 PM on 11/18/2011

I am truely sorry you ahd to go thru that. i wish we all lived in a better world.

[D ADLER]

04:47 AM on 11/15/2011

And, Rick the Braying Chicken Hawk Santorum's resonse to former Pow McCain this time around?

[LeftFoLyfe]

04:11 AM on 11/15/2011

That's alright John. Many Americans are very disappointed in what you transformed into during your run for the presidency.

[Todd Abrams]

02:37 AM on 11/15/2011

Thats a start, at least some republicans can be humane to a degree! Kudos to you Mr McCain, Huntsman, and Paul! Its about time, but there are many other issues that are happening right now that need to be delt with, like jobs! If one of the republican candidates would step up and get jobs going, he would be a contender for the presidency! But as for now, the childplay needs to stop!
Really, if another country waterboarded one of our soldiers, how would we see that?
Its not right for America to stand for that and peace, at the same time! Use our military to defend our country's integrity! Did they forget that the nuclear missle was created? We aren't the only one that has one!!!!!