Hillary Rodham Clinton - Can the use of torture as an interrogation technique be justified?

As a matter of policy, it cannot be American policy, period.

At the Dartmouth college debate Sept. 26, 2007:

Chris Matthews: "This is the number three man in Al-Qaeda, we know there's a bomb about to go off. We have three days and we know that this guy knows where it is. Should there be a Presidential exception to allow torture in that kind of situation?"

Hillary Clinton: “As a matter of policy, it cannot be American policy, period....There is very little evidence that it works.”

Posted on 10/13/2007 3:29:57 PM by Freddie MontogomeryApproved 3/2/2008 11:36 PM

"The Ticking Time Bomb Scenario Represents A Narrow Exception"

NY Daily News

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) said she supports legalizing the torture of a captured terror suspect who knows about "an imminent threat to millions of Americans" - making an exception to her opposition to torture and marking a key difference from her possible rival for the White House, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). "If we're going to be preparing for the kind of improbable but possible eventuality, then it has to be done within the rule of law," Clinton said in a phone interview Friday, expanding on comments to the Daily News Editorial Board. She said the "ticking time bomb" scenario represents a narrow exception to her opposition to torture as morally wrong, ineffective and dangerous to American soldiers. "In the event we were ever confronted with having to interrogate a detainee with knowledge of an imminent threat to millions of Americans, then the decision to depart from standard international practices must be made by the President, and the President must be held accountable," she said. "That very, very narrow exception within very, very limited circumstances is better than blasting a big hole in our entire law."

Posted on 5/16/2007 12:23:40 PM by brianrApproved 3/2/2008 11:36 PM

Clinton Voted Against Bush's Torture Bill

Here was her explanation...

Democrats argued that the rules were being rushed through for political gain too close to a major election, that they would fundamentally threaten the foundations of the American legal system, and that they would come back to haunt lawmakers as one of the greatest mistakes in history.

“I believe there can be no mercy for those who perpetrated the crimes of 9/11,” said Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democrat of New York. “But in the process of accomplishing what I believe is essential for our security, we must hold onto our values and set an example that we can point to with pride, not shame.”

Posted on 10/9/2006 10:17:30 PM by brianrApproved 3/2/2008 11:36 PM