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Politics

Bush denies Cheney endorsed 'water boarding'

The White House says the remark did not refer to the torture technique.

By TERENCE HUNT
Published October 28, 2006

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Friday that the United States does not torture prisoners, commenting after Vice President Dick Cheney embraced the suggestion that a dunk in water might be useful to get terrorist suspects to talk.

Human rights groups complained that Cheney's words amounted to an endorsement of a torture technique known as "water boarding," in which the victim believes he is about to drown. The White House insisted that Cheney was not talking about water boarding but would not explain what he meant.

The White House was put on the defensive as news of Cheney's remark spread. Bush was asked about it at a White House photo opportunity, and presidential spokesman Tony Snow was questioned at two briefings.

Cheney triggered the flap in an interview Tuesday by radio broadcaster Scott Hennen of WDAY in Fargo, N.D. Hennen said callers had told him, "Please, let the vice president know that if it takes dunking a terrorist in water, we're all for it, if it saves lives."

"Would you agree a dunk in water is a no-brainer if it can save lives?" Hennen asked.

"Well, it's a no-brainer for me, but for a while there I was criticized as being the vice president for torture," Cheney said. "We don't torture. That's not what we're involved in."

Snow, at a morning meeting, tried to brush off the controversy, saying Cheney did not interpret the question as referring to water boarding.

In water boarding, a prisoner is tied to a board with his head slanted down and a towel covering his face. Water is then poured on his face to create the sensation of drowning.

[Last modified October 28, 2006, 00:25:50]