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Ex-CIA Agent: Waterboarding Useful Torture

He saw a key prisoner break in 35 seconds; intel saved many lives

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 11, 2007 8:09 AM CST

(Newser) – The highly controversial use of  waterboarding in terrorist interrogations has "probably saved lives" but is torture, a former CIA officer told ABC News last night and the Today show this morning. John Kiriakou watched a prisoner break down under waterboarding in 35 seconds, he said, and "from that day on, he answered every question." The information "disrupted maybe dozens of attacks," he said.

Critics have claimed that prisoners will say anything to end the procedure in which they are strapped down and water poured down their throats until they feel as if they're drowning. The use of torture is an issue that Kiriakou said he "struggles with" and he refused to use "enhanced interrogation techniques" while he worked for the CIA, admitting they "may have compromised our principles."

Lt. Gen. Michael Hayden appears before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington  during a confirmation hearing on his nomination to be deputy director of national intelligence in this April 14, 2005 file photo. The Justice Department and CIA's internal watchdog announced a joint inquiry Saturday, Dec. 8,...
Lt. Gen. Michael Hayden appears before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington during a confirmation hearing on his nomination to be deputy director of national intelligence in...   (Associated Press)
A former CIA agent has spoken out about the practice of waterboarding terrorist suspects.
A former CIA agent has spoken out about the practice of waterboarding terrorist suspects.   ((c) jarnocan)
In this undated image taken from video and provided by ABC News, former leader of the CIA team that captured Abu Zubaydah, John Kiriakou speaks during an interview first broadcast on ABC's World News Monday Dec. 10, 2007. Kiriakou said the waterboarding of Zubaydah, a major Al-Qaida figure, got him...
In this undated image taken from video and provided by ABC News, former leader of the CIA team that captured Abu Zubaydah, John Kiriakou speaks during an interview first broadcast on ABC's World News...   (Associated Press)
In a file photo CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden speaks at the Intelligence and National Security Alliance dinner in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007. Hayden is to testify in a closed session Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007,  before the Senate Intelligence Committee, and on Wednesday before the House Intelligence Committee to...
In a file photo CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden speaks at the Intelligence and National Security Alliance dinner in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007. Hayden is to testify in a closed session Tuesday,...   (Associated Press)
In this photo provided by CBS, Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., listens to a question regarding the destroyed CIA videotapes after appearing on CBS's Face the Nation in Washington, Sunday, Dec.. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/CBS Face the Nation, Karin Cooper)
In this photo provided by CBS, Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., listens to a question regarding the destroyed CIA videotapes after appearing on CBS's "Face the Nation" in...   (Associated Press)
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