June 3) -- Former President George W. Bush says he has no regrets that the mastermind of 9/11 was waterboarded while under interrogation, and he would allow it again "to save lives."
Bush made the comment in a speech Wednesday to the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Mich.
"Yeah, we waterboarded Khalid Sheikh Mohammed," Bush said. "I'd do it again to save lives."
Brendan Smialowski, Getty Images
Former President George W. Bush if he had to do it over, he would still waterboard Khalid Sheik Mohammed "to save lives." Waterboarding is a technique used by CIA interrogators under the Bush administration, in which the suspect's head is either submerged underwater or water is poured into his or her airways, to simulate drowning. It's now banned under the Obama administration, which considers it torture.
Mohammed is believed to be the most senior al-Qaida suspect in U.S. custody. He was captured in Pakistan in 2003 and is one of several detainees who endured waterboarding under their American captors.
In his speech Wednesday, Bush also defended his decision to invade Iraq in 2003.
"Getting rid of Saddam Hussein was the right thing to do, and the world is a better place without him," the 63-year-old former president said.
Bush also said he knows how tough the job of the president is, and he won't publicly criticize President Barack Obama.
"You are not going to see me in the public square criticizing the president," he said. "I didn't like it when a certain former president made my life miserable," he added, referring to comments from former President Jimmy Carter during his own time in office.
Bush's comments were reported by The Grand Rapids Press and picked up by several other news agencies. The former president has a memoir titled "Decision Points" that's expected to be out later this year.
Filed under: Nation
George W. Bush on Waterboarding Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: 'I'd Do It Again' - AOL News
Bush made the comment in a speech Wednesday to the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Mich.
"Yeah, we waterboarded Khalid Sheikh Mohammed," Bush said. "I'd do it again to save lives."
Brendan Smialowski, Getty Images
Former President George W. Bush if he had to do it over, he would still waterboard Khalid Sheik Mohammed "to save lives." Waterboarding is a technique used by CIA interrogators under the Bush administration, in which the suspect's head is either submerged underwater or water is poured into his or her airways, to simulate drowning. It's now banned under the Obama administration, which considers it torture.
Mohammed is believed to be the most senior al-Qaida suspect in U.S. custody. He was captured in Pakistan in 2003 and is one of several detainees who endured waterboarding under their American captors.
In his speech Wednesday, Bush also defended his decision to invade Iraq in 2003.
"Getting rid of Saddam Hussein was the right thing to do, and the world is a better place without him," the 63-year-old former president said.
Bush also said he knows how tough the job of the president is, and he won't publicly criticize President Barack Obama.
"You are not going to see me in the public square criticizing the president," he said. "I didn't like it when a certain former president made my life miserable," he added, referring to comments from former President Jimmy Carter during his own time in office.
Bush's comments were reported by The Grand Rapids Press and picked up by several other news agencies. The former president has a memoir titled "Decision Points" that's expected to be out later this year.
Filed under: Nation
George W. Bush on Waterboarding Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: 'I'd Do It Again' - AOL News