Rove: 'I'm Proud' of Waterboarding

Technique helped break terrorists' will, 'Bush's brain' says

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 12, 2010 2:34 AM CST

(Newser) – Karl Rove is proud of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation techniques used under the Bush administration, he said in an interview. He is "proud we used techniques that broke the will of these terrorists," the memoir-touting Bush adviser told a BBC reporter, boasting that harsh interrogation tactics had helped prevent terrorist attacks on the US and Britain.

"Yes, I'm proud that we kept the world safer than it was, by the use of these techniques," Rove said. "They're appropriate, they're in conformity with our international requirements and with US law." Waterboarding—which President Obama banned last year—isn't torture, Rove argued. His new memoir defends the Bush administration as "impressive, durable and significant."

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[Quotes (1)]

Karl Rove Former senior advisor and deputy chief of staff to George W. Bush, makes an appearance on NBC's "Today" show to promote his new book "Courage and Consequence." (AP Photo/NBC, Peter Kramer)

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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 aeroplanes into Heathrow and into London. - Karl Rove

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 35 comments

901nanny

Mar 15, 2010 12:04 AM CDT

I guess I am in some agreement with getting answers out of terrorists but how can Rove say water boarding is not torture? I, for one really don't want to have it tried on me to come to a conclusion whether it's torture or not.

Cher

Mar 12, 2010 9:24 PM CST

For all of you that have been waterboarded please stand up. Well, there you go....If that is what it takes to stop the terriorist then good. If blowing yourself up doesn't scare anyone, then they should not be affraid of being waterboarded. We should tell them they will have 100 virgins after every waterboard.

passinthru

Mar 12, 2010 8:57 PM CST

Karl rove is "Martin" from the simpsons all grown up.

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Crime & Courts • Politics • World

Bush administration • Karl Rove • waterboarding • interrogation techniques • harsh interrogation

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Rove: 'I'm Proud' of Waterboarding