Reuters AlertNet Lite - Cheney did not back simulated drowning-White House

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Cheney did not back simulated drowning-White House

27 Oct 2006 15:04:38 GMT
Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney was not talking about simulated drowning when he agreed this week that a "dunk in water" for terrorism suspects might be useful, the White House said on Friday.

Cheney was asked on Tuesday by a conservative radio host from Fargo, North Dakota: "Would you agree a dunk in water is a no-brainer if it can save lives?"

"Well, it's a no-brainer for me," Cheney replied.

His comment prompted complaints from human rights advocates that he was endorsing a technique called "waterboarding" that simulates drowning and is considered torture by some critics.

"If Iran or Syria detained an American, Cheney is saying that it would be perfectly fine for them to hold that American's head under water until he nearly drowns, if that's what they think they need to do to save Iranian or Syrian lives," said Tom Malinowski, Washington advocacy director for Human Rights Watch.

White House spokesman Tony Snow insisted that U.S. officials do not talk publicly about interrogation techniques because they are classified.

"The vice president didn't make any comments about waterboarding," Snow said at a contentious morning briefing on the topic.

He shrugged off Cheney's answer to what he dismissed as a "loosely worded question" and said the United States does not practice or condone torture.

U.S. interrogation techniques came under scrutiny after evidence emerged of the abuse of detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan, damaging America's image around the world.

The possibility of waterboarding being used as a technique was a factor in a revolt by three senior Republican senators in September against a Bush proposal for establishing a CIA interrogation program for terrorism suspects.

The White House has refused to describe what interrogation techniques will be allowed under the program, although Arizona Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain has said he was confident waterboarding and other such techniques would be banned under it.

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Last updated:Fri Oct 27 15:06:58 2006