U.S. President George W. Bush (R) walks with White House Adviser Carl Rove through the colonnade of the Rose Garden at the White House on February 28, 2006.
Originally published March 12, 2010 at 11:56 a.m., updated March 12, 2010 at 11:56 a.m.
LONDON, March 12 (UPI) -- Karl Rove, adviser to former U.S. President George W. Bush, praised harsh interrogation tactics, saying they saved lives by helping prevent terror attacks.
"I'm proud that we kept the world safer than it was by the use of these techniques," Rove told the BBC in an interview published Friday, saying the tactics "broke the will of these terrorists."
One technique, waterboarding, which simulates drowning, shouldn't be considered torture, Rove said. In 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama banned waterboarding.
In 2008, Michael Hayden, who was director of the CIA, told Congress waterboarding was used on three high-profile al-Qaida detainees and hadn't been used in five years. One of the detainees was Khalid Sheik Mohammed, a key suspect in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on U.S. soil.
Waterboarding was sanctioned in memos by Bush administration lawyers in August 2002.
A less severe form of the technique was used on the three suspects when they were interrogated at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Rove said.
"I'm proud that we used techniques that broke the will of these terrorists and gave us valuable information that allowed us to foil plots such as flying airplanes into Heathrow and into London, bringing down aircraft over the Pacific, flying an airplane into the tallest building in Los Angeles and other plots," Rove said.
"Yes, I'm proud that we kept the world safer than it was by the use of these techniques," he said. "They're appropriate; they're in conformity with our international requirements and with U.S. law."
Comments
obamain2012 (anonymous) says...
This will surprise everybody since I am a conservative democrat, but I am all for water boarding. The fact is these idiotic terrorists will do anything to kill, and murder American Military, & Citizens. These guys don't believe in the geneva convention, as we seen with the outstanding way they treated our military when they captured them several years ago with the beheadings, and dragging their deceased bodies through the streets.
I would even go as far as to say before anyone can post on this website they should be waterboarded..... ;- )
March 12, 2010 at 8:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Carlton (anonymous) says...
Oobama2010 I am to say the least, surprised at your post, I never would have thought you held any Conservative views. Congratulations
March 12, 2010 at 9:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tmmy99 (anonymous) says...
waterboarding is awesome!!!
no such thing as a conservative democrat!!!! who are they again?
March 12, 2010 at 10:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gman (anonymous) says...
waterboarding is not be as severe as other methods, but it still rates as torture.
March 12, 2010 at 10:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
etblues (anonymous) says...
Torture also consists of cutting the heads off of private American citizens by our enemies.
Water boarding...who cares.
et
March 12, 2010 at 11:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tom63010 (anonymous) says...
obamain2010,
In this day and age conservative democrat is an oxymoron.
Personally I feel the definition of torture should include "may lead to a person's death". Waterboarding will not lead to one's death so in my belief it is not torture.
March 12, 2010 at 11:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
palin4prez (anonymous) says...
If it saves the life of Americans...I'm all for it.
March 12, 2010 at 1:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Towncar07 (anonymous) says...
OMG, OB2012...I just about swallowed my gum...I have to reassess things.
The monster of opposite opinion may have a sane side...let's hope.
March 12, 2010 at 4:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rune04 (anonymous) says...
obamain2012: This what suprised me!!!
This will surprise everybody since I am a conservative democrat.
As Slick Willy would say, define "conservative."
March 12, 2010 at 7:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Towncar07 (anonymous) says...
I might define a conservative Democrat as one that, if (they) are on the Government dole, or assistance of any kind, then the Government can and should be aware, and can dictate, their choices and actions...otherwise, it's LEAVE ME ALONE ! Trouble is, the proposal is that everyone must take what Government says, and that there is no choice. and freedoms are lost inside the false assumption of FOR the common good, everyone must pay.
Sign on to Gov't programs and go by rules, opt out of Gov't programs and be free to choose, decide, aim, proceed, and achieve as much as your spirit will take you. And NEVER tax away the incentive for prosperity. Win and you can win big (legally) and lose, well the Gov't will help, but you must obey the rules. That sounds liberally-conservative to me, and how others might interpret this is open for your consideration. Liberal/Conservative...the Country and the goal of it's Founders quest for individual freedom, and Government available for the betterment of it's citizens would be great.
That sounds liberally- conservative to me...and I have no objection.
March 12, 2010 at 9:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )