Cheney: ‘I was aware of’ waterboarding and ‘I supported it’

Photo: Lauren Victoria Burke

On ABC News Monday, Vice President Dick Cheney acknowledged knowing about and approving of the torture technique known as waterboarding.

“I was aware of the program, certainly, and involved in helping get the process cleared, as the agency in effect came in and wanted to know what they could and couldn’t do,” Cheney said. “And they talked to me, as well as others, to explain what they wanted to do. And I supported it.” (Back in April, George W. Bush admitted as much, as well.)

Replaying the tape on MSNBC last night, Rachel Maddow asked Michigan Democrat Carl Levin, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committe, “Did he just admit to condoning torture?” His reply:

“As far as I’m concerned, that’s exactly what he admitted,” Levin said after a pause to shut his eyes, and shake his head as if still in disbelief.

“Now he’ll say that he doesn’t admit supporting torture,” Levin added, “but facts are that the policies which were approved, the legal opinions authorized these harsh techniques, and when the Vice President of the United States says that he believes — and he said that what, just a few nights ago — that waterboarding is ‘appropriate,’ there is no other conclusion that I can reach other than I know it’s a form of torture, it’s been acknowledged as a form of torture I think since the Inquisition. Senator McCain who was the subject of torture is absolutely clear on it, but I think every authority on waterboarding and torture will say that waterboarding constitutes ‘torture.’”

George W. Bush famously told CBS’ Katie Couric, “I’ve said to the people that we don’t torture, and we don’t.” But his administration has long danced around the definition of torture and whether waterboarding, a forced simulation of drowning, qualifies.