CIA Director: No Waterboarding, Even Under a New President

Nick Kangadis | April 11, 2016
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Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan told NBC News that the agency will not participate in any “enhanced interrogation techniques,” even if the president ordered it to be done.

“Absolutely I would not agree to any CIA officer carrying out waterboarding again,” Brennan said.

Should GOP frontrunner Donald Trump or his Republican rival Sen. Ted Cruz get elected president, Brennan said he would take issue with their enabling of such techniques.

Trump has previously said that the use of waterboarding “wouldn’t bother me, even a little bit.”

Meanwhile, Cruz has stated that he does not believe that waterboarding is torture.

Brennan maintains that the “enhanced interrogation techniques” banned by President Obama in 2009 would harm the CIA if ever brought back again.

During the interview, Brennan explained, “I will not agree to carry out some of these tactics and techniques I've heard bandied about because this institution needs to endure.”

Since the CIA director is the principal intelligence advisor to the president, how would Brennan advise a president that does not agree with him? Would Brennan still be the director under a president that has such an opposing view?

To watch the video of Brennan's interrogation comments, watch below:

 

 

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