Former POW McCain backs release of CIA torture report

WASHINGTON — Saying that "the truth is sometimes a hard pill to swallow," an emotional Sen. John McCain, subjected to torture himself while a prisoner of war in Vietnam, praised the release on Tuesday of a report on CIA torture of terrorist suspects.

The Arizona Republican spoke on the Senate floor immediately after Intelligence Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., outlined the findings included in an executive summary that was released to the public.

"Our enemies act without conscience," McCain said. "We must not. This executive summary makes clear that acting without conscience isn't necessary, it isn't even helpful, in winning this strange and long war we're fighting. We should be grateful to have that truth affirmed."

The report concludes that despite CIA claims, the severe interrogation techniques used — including waterboarding — did not produce good intelligence.

McCain said his own experience as a Navy pilot who was tortured by the North Vietnamese after he was shot down in 1967 taught him that lesson.

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"I know from personal experience that the abuse of prisoners will produce more bad than good intelligence. I know that victims of torture will offer intentionally misleading information if they think their captors will believe it. I know they will say whatever they think their torturers want them to say if they believe it will stop their suffering," McCain said.

McCain said he understood what motivated CIA operatives to resort to harsh tactics.

"I respect their dedication and appreciate their dilemma," he said. "But I dispute wholeheartedly that it was right for them to use these methods."

McCain said the agency's actions "stained our national honor, did much harm and little good."

He called the practice of waterboarding — in which water was poured down the throat of prisoners to simulate drowning — "an exquisite form of torture" that was "shameful and unnecessary."

McCain acknowledged that release of the report could lead to violence in some parts of the world.

"This question isn't about our enemies; it's about us. It's about who we were, who we are and who we aspire to be." McCain said.

"When we fight to defend our security, we fight also for an idea … an idea that all men are endowed by the creator with inalienable rights."

He said the country does not need to risk its national honor to win a war.

"We need only remember in the worst of times, through the chaos and terror of war, when facing cruelty, suffering and loss, that we are always Americans, and different, stronger and better than those who would destroy us," he concluded.

In supporting the report's release, McCain broke ranks with his close friend, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. There is rarely any daylight between the two Republicans, both prominent defense hawks, when it comes to national security.

Graham, who has been encouraged by McCain to run for president in 2016, said in a statement that the timing of the report's release "is politically motivated" and will cause harm to American servicemen and women stationed around the world.

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