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McCain Updates Waterboard Dig at Romney

Says that US hanged Japanese who did it to Americans in WWII

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 29, 2007 2:39 PM CST

(Newser) – John McCain today extended his angry response to Mitt Romney’s cagey comments on torture in last night’s debate, reminding Americans that the US hanged members of the Japanese military for waterboarding Americans in WWII. “There should be little doubt that we consider that as torture,” McCain concluded in his biting history lesson, the AP reports.

Romney drew the former POW’s ire by refusing to specify which interrogation techniques he’d allow Americans to use on captives. McCain suggested such a policy amounted to scrapping the Geneva Conventions, which lay out legal methods in detail. We lose our moral authority when we waterboard our foes, McCain insisted today, “and then there's nothing to prevent that enemy from also torturing” us.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

Anti-Mukasey protesters hold demonstration against waterboarding. (Getty Images)

Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain of Arizona called out Mitt Romney in last night's debate, saying "Well, governor, I'm astonished that you haven't found out what waterboarding is." (Getty Images)

Republican presidential hopefuls Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.,and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney talk to each other before a GOP presidential candidates debate at Ford Community and Performing Arts... (Associated Press)

Presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., takes questions from the media in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday, June 13, 2007. McCain's campaign on Wednesday circulated a video clip showing then-Massachusetts... (Associated Press)

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McCain Updates Waterboard Dig at Romney