Ex-CIA Agent: Waterboarding Useful Torture

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." (More CIA stories.)