The man who President Barack Obama wants to lead the CIA says he’s “absolutely convinced” that America can be kept safe without the use of torture against its enemies. Leon Panetta told officials at his confirmation hearing this week that if a “ticking time bomb situation” arose and a suspected terrorist wasn’t cooperating, Panetta would ask Obama for added authority in using techniques to get vital information. Obama has spoken out against torture methods, though the CIA has previously used waterboarding, which simulates drowning, to interrogate some captives. The United States has also reportedly sent suspects to nations that are known to use torture in handling suspected terrorists.                                                

TAGS: , Barack Obama, Leon Panetta

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