White House Denies Cheney Endorsed Torture

VP Called Dunking Suspects In Water During Interrogations 'A No-Brainer'

(CBS/AP)  The White House denied Friday that Vice President Dick Cheney had endorsed "water boarding" — a technique many consider torture — when he said earlier this week that dunking terrorism suspects in water during interrogations was a "no-brainer."

Cheney's comments sparked an outcry from human rights groups, which claimed his statement amounted to an endorsement of water boarding, an age-old technique in which a prisoner's head is kept under water to simulate drowning.

"This country doesn't torture. We will interrogate people we pick up on the battlefield," President Bush said Friday. He declined, however, to directly respond to reporters' questions about Cheney's remarks.

White House press secretary Tony Snow insisted the vice president was not referring to water boarding.

"You know as a matter of common sense that the vice president of the United States is not going to be talking about water boarding. Never would. Never does. Never will," Snow said.

Asked if the vice president slipped up, an exasperated Snow responded, "No. Are you kidding? You think Dick Cheney's going to slip up on something like this. Come on!"

The controversy stems from an interview Cheney had with Scott Hennen, a conservative radio host in Fargo, N.D., on Tuesday, during which Cheney was asked if he agreed that "a dunk in water is a no-brainer" if it can provide information that can save lives.

"Well, it's a no-brainer for me," Cheney said, according to a transcript of the interview posted on the White House Web site.

He added, "We don't torture. That's not what we're involved in. We live up to our obligations in international treaties that we're party to and so forth. But the fact is, you can have a fairly robust interrogation program without torture, and we need to be able to do that."

Cheney said important information had been gleaned from interrogations of terror suspects like Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the reputed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, who is being held at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"Our ability to interrogate high-value detainees like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, that's been a very important tool that we've had to be able to secure the nation," Cheney said.

He added that Mohammad provided "enormously valuable information about how many (al-Qaeda members) there are, about how they plan, what their training processes are and so forth. We've learned a lot. We need to be able to continue that."

A Cheney spokeswoman denied the vice president was confirming the use of any specific interrogation technique.

"He was talking about the interrogation program without torture," spokeswoman Lee Anne McBride said. "The vice president does not discuss any techniques or methods that may or may not have been used in questioning."

Human rights groups condemned the vice president's remarks.

"What's really a no-brainer is that no U.S. official, much less a vice president, should champion torture," said Amnesty International USA executive director Larry Cox.

"This administration aims at a radical break with our country's proud human rights tradition," Cox said. "The America we believe in does not torture people."

Mr. Bush signed legislation earlier this month authorizing tough interrogation of terror suspects and smoothing the way for trials before military commissions.

The president said the United States will abide by its international obligations and will not engage in torture.

The U.S. Army's recently revised Field Manual explicitly prohibits the use of water boarding as part of its wider ban or torture and degrading treatment of prisoners.

The manual applies to all the armed services — but does not cover the CIA, which has come under criticism for mistreatment of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan and for keeping suspects in secret prisons around the world.

[michwate]

Cheney doesn't slip up? Doesn't make mistakes?
There is a man with his face full of lead that would contradict Mr. Snow. There are also many soldiers that have fallen since he undersestimated the insurgency. This is a guy who slips up all the time: he shoots his friends in the face after drinking, he has twice been convicted of DUI. Although he has taken an oath to protect the constitution, he has done his best to destroy it. He was responsible for giving Saddam the neerve gas when he was Reagan's Secretary of Defense. Let me hear him deny that!

[abbe7]

If he wasn't talking about waterboarding, what was he talking about ? Why would the media not keep asking the question ?

[darkfyreaol]

Oops, Cheney did it again.

Since the beginning of Bush's campaign, *** Cheney has been out of step with the President's official stance on certain matters... Incidents that seem to give the public glimpses into internal happenings.

The very fact that the White House denies Cheney endorsed torture defies all logic.

It's simple.

A: Cheney endorsed dunking suspects in water.

B: Dunking suspects in water is torture.

C: Waterboarding is a form of torture, by dunking suspects in water.

If A = B, and B = C, then A = C.

Cheney unwittingly endorsed waterboarding as 'a no brainer'.

[radiob-2009]

To Winstrv have you ever served in combat?If you had ever served in combat you would know that the VC never abided by the Geneva convention,you would also know that with one exception Lt. Kelly we did abide by the Geneva Convention.The VC were terrorist planting grenades on the elderly,woman with children and forcing them by holding other members of their familys, to attack us.War is ugly and inhumane no matter what the reason.Some wars are avoidable others are not.We signed on to the Geneva Convention with a host of other countries to try and make it more humane.part one

[radiob-2009]

Part two We cannot just because our enemies are violating the Geneva convention pick and chose and then say we will not abide by international law.Do you honestly think that beheading is new,the VC did this and placed the heads of soldiers and civilians on sticks as a scare tactic.If you beleive that violating international law is legal,then why are some many of our soldiers now on trial?They(the soldiers)want to blame it on higher ups,that is an oxymoron for anyone that has served.I know what the military code is from serving and I know that I had the right to refuse any unlawful order.An unlawful order is any order that violates international law or military law.We are in Iraq for the wrong reasons,the enemy was and is in Afghanistan and Pakistan which we should have strategally nuked after 9/11.Had we done so we would not be in Iraq today,despite the fact that Iraq was planned 11 days into Bush first term(sources:AGAINST ALL ENEMIES and THE PRICE OF LOYALTY).

[awenshok]

So, the Republickem strategy is now revealed. Bewteen Rush and Cheney, the Bush administration has finally revealed its' exit Iraq strategy. Win everything except the next two election cycles. Wow! Dunkards Unite!

[lushbimbo]

What a whack job...

[jls0802]

Treason. War crimes. No place in the world. I want to see *** Cheney hanged for the sum of his evil.

[millwright15]

Ok, first off let me say this.I have no respect for Bush or Cheney.Second, are we or are not "at war" Third, did AlQueeda sign the Geneva Convention?? If they didnt ,then take the kid gloves off and do whats necessary. After all how many Americans and aliies were brutalized before being beheaded by those animals over there??????

[bragova]

Notice how Cheney calls it "dunking" so it won't sound so bad. If somebody dunks your head in a bucket of water you can just hold your breath. Waterboarding is much more scientific--you're strapped to a board with your head lower than your feet, so you can't prevent the water from filling up your nose and mouth. The Khmer Rouge did it in Cambodia under Pol Pot.

[cofmanaaron]

I will vote for a democrat this year to insure oversight in the manner in which this war is being waged (a democratic congress will still have to work with this administration on common-sense solutions if we're to have a productive foriegn policy). Voting is the best way for our leaders to respect the will of the majority in America, not leaving the country. A lot of this reminds me of V for Vendetta. See it if you haven't, goooooooood movie.

[cofmanaaron]

Winstrv: I'm confused, I had thought before that our armed forces swore their oath to the constitution, not to the temporal leader of the U.S. Was I incorrect in that belief?

[j-whitman]

Winstrv,,,, The Geneva Convention you should have learned was signed by many nations, in Geneva, Switzerland,, not Geneva Christian College in Beaver Falls,,, It's International Law, Bush can't exclude himself from it.... Look what your republicans are doing in the once patriotic state of Virginia,, James Webb, Marine Combat Veteran, 3 Silver Stars, Navy Cross, Secretary of the Navy,, Slander pure slander,, George Allen, Son of Privilage, Bush Toadie,,, Your party is doing what it does best DISHONERING OUR HERO'S

[rharrin1]

winstrv who do you think was behind those reports?

[fascistusa]

We're not a FASCIST NATION ruled by the Rich. Wink Wink.

We don't condone Torture. We don't have Secret Prisons. We don't invade Countries based on Lies and Propoganda.

That only happens in BAD Countries. Like... Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, Moussilini Italy and CHENEY AMERICA!

[actsmarter]

Cheney under Halliburton sold arms to both Iran and Iraq. Please view the Canadian (CBC) show about Cheney. The rest of the world knew this 2 years ago. You have to scroll down past the other movies to get to it, but this is what the Canadians are entertained with during prime time.

http://www.question911.com/linksall.htm

[aicohnx2]

Do these guys have a deathwish at the polls??

I voted for bush not once, but twice. I never thought he'd trash the constitution.

These guys make me embarrassed to be a republican.

Next election I'm voting for howard stern. He may screw up the country, but at least we'd get a good laugh.

Just when you think the bush administration can't get any more ridiculous, another shoe drops. I wish these guys would stop torturing ME.

How much worse could hillary clinton be??

[exusmcsgt]

osidebear-

Well said. I am amazed at the number of people who endorse conduct no better than that of the "savages" and "thugs" they classify as enemies of civilization.

[nothappyatall]

McDazz, checkout http://www.bushisantichrist.com and see if there arent some WIERD things with this Bush moron listed there.

[staff2--2008]

it's time to put these guys on trial for treason...they (Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and the rest of the crew of republicans)have brought shame and misfortune upon America...