Former Interrogator: Ban Waterboarding

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Source: AP

By LAURIE KELLMAN – 3 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — A former interrogation instructor for the Navy on Thursday said the words that congressional Democrats wanted to hear from Attorney General-designate Michael Mukasey: waterboarding is torture and should be banned.

"Waterboarding is torture, period," Malcolm Wrightson Nance, a former Navy instructor of prisoner of war and terrorist hostage survival programs, told a House constitutional subcommittee. "I believe that we must reject the use of the waterboard for prisoners and captives and cleanse this stain from our national honor."

Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., said at the panel's hearing that he is against torture but that "sometimes we have to take measures to protect the innocent that we do not like."

"Severe interrogations are sometimes part of doing that," added Franks, the ranking Republican on the panel.

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gPVYG7lRx4WXnsqQABEwrXcEqFswD8SPK5884

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The Penatgon refused to allow Col. Couch to testify as scheduled today.

Trent Franks office number is 202-225-4576