are we debating waterboarding again? hell yes we are debating waterboarding. that's what you call a lead. michele bachmann started it during saturday's debate saying she would support the reinstatement of waterboarding as an interrogation technique for terrorist suspects and herman cain agreed. so on sunday president obama responded. >> they are wrong. waterboarding is torture. it is contrary to america's traditions. it is contrary to our ideals. that's not who we are. >> on monday bachmann fired back telling fox news it is obama who is wrong adding -- >> i would go back to president harry truman who had to make the horrific decision about dropping an atomic bomb on japan to end world war ii. he said if he had to kill japanese in order to save one american life he would, and if as president of the united states i believe we would be able to save 3,000 american lives and stop jet aircraft from flying into the twin towers i would utilize waterboarding if it would save those american lives. >> i think i need somebody to take my mind off waterboarding and the thre

controversial practice of waterboarding back in the spotlight at the g.o.p. presidential debate president obama is where we start using gauging his two thousand and twelve waddled he says herman cain of a shell bachmann are just plain wrong for saying that they'd be willing to use a controversial interrogation technique some candidate said that president obama was wrong to ban the cia interrogation method it doesn't say a good example to the rest of the world where the u.s. is involved in something since he told me when i asked if i see him phatic lee said it is torture waterboarding is torture. it's contrary to america's traditions it's contrary to our ideals that's not who we are that's not how we operate we don't need it. now is waterboarding and torture wrong and contrary to american ideals yes one hundred percent no question about it yes but decisions made by our officials post nine eleven put a very dark shadow over our actions as a country and the president's decision to ban torture was obviously the right one but here's where i start to get a little b

what he's talking about because waterboarding is torture. and there's a lot of back and forth going on there but you know some people today have even said that perhaps part of this part of the reason why you have g.o.p. contenders speaking. so openly advocating for torture is because president obama didn't actually do anything to fix it he outlawed torture but he didn't actually hold hold anybody accountable for the bush administration what he may well i mean there's no doubt about the fact that he outlawed torture and tried to close guantanamo and now he was of able to prosecute the people in the cia because leon panetta who was then the director tried to tell them that a lot of the people who did it board following orders from the bush administration remember the bush administration that said waterboarding was legal facts former vice president dick cheney still takes credit for waterboarding getting so maybe nobody had met and george w. bush has openly admitted it and obama has not i mean that's been a very very big important distinction b

said he was very disappointed by statements supporting waterboarding. waterboarding is torture.g barrier. >> watching the debate i got the sense they weren't debating to be the republican presidential nominee but auditioning to be the next grand exquizisto. he would talk with reluctance to use whatever techniques are necessary to elicit the information. this went well beyond that. it was almost lustful about the benefits of waterboarding. and i think that you're seeing a republican party ha that has gone significantly beyond where bush and cheney were. >> maybe they are trying, mr. alexander to pander to some extreme crowd because they have an uphill battle to put either of their either credentials against him. may, successful raid on osama bin laden. september. the death of anwar al awlaki. october, libyan rebels kill kad g gadhafi. when you have these kinds of things that the president, who they said would be weak on foreign policy, and weak in this area, how do you run against them? i guess by trying to go to an extreme and act as though something he doesn't believe in could

be willing to use waterboarding.t was very effective for our country. >> i don't see it as torture. i see it as an enhanced interrogation technique. >> let me just say this. they're wrong. waterboarding is torture. it's contrary to america's traditions, it's contrary to our ideals. that's not who we are, that's not how we operate. >> so are we going to get into another argument over weather waterboarding is torture? you've got john mccain talking about the army manual. michele bachmann saying the army manual is on line and can tell the terrorists what kind of questions they'll be asked. >> this debate is as old as the old republic. balancing security, safety rights. herman cain and the president are absolutely right. people will say anything to stop the pain. it's not a reliable source of interrogation, and they have yet to demonstrate fundamentally that it is. for a guy who really isn't that vulnerable on foreign policy, the president, he's basically a more infinite version of president bush. by and large, the presi

jane," demy moore was waterboarded. >> stephen: folks i need no further proof that waterboarding is effect and i have necessary from the fact that it was used on demi moore. that movie came out 14 years ago and she still looks incredible. we should call it "cougar boarding." i believe alan west is on to something. if it's okay to do it in a 57, it is a valid interrogation tactic. therefore, detainees should be forced to drink oil, have their brains suckud out by a giant bug, or play shirtless beach volleyball in tight jeans. finally, eye-opening consumer news from kcbs, los angeles' news leader. >> laitle necklace is caution a big controversy at forever 21 clothing stores. it's called the oriental girl necklace. it has the internet becausing with people who say the term oriental is racist and say the charm itself is derogatory in its depiction of air,ian women. >> stephen: that's right. they so angry they hate you long time. ( laughter ). folks, this controversial necklace has been pulled from the shelves, so if you bought one, it is now a rare collector's item. because forever 21 recently

. >> if i were period i would be willing to use waterboarding. >> they are wrong.aterboarding is torture. >> herman's better half comes to his defense. >> that's not the person he s. he totally respects women. >> for leaves us wondering, who really is herman cain. >> i'm thinking he would have to have a split important to do the things she said. >> that's the person hem e herman cain is. >>> it is a critical week in the world of politics. president obama turning up the heat on his challengers and for the first time engaging directly with them on the issue of foreign policy. attending the apex summit in hawaii, he was far from south carolina. it was there he departed from the standard policy of staying above the fray. it came after the candidate's bold statements starting with just how they would thwart iran's nuclear ambitions. >> maximum covert operations to block and disrupt the iranian program and including taking out their scientists and breaking up their systems. all of the covertly denial. >> one thing you can know. if we reelect barack obama iran will have a

you don't think we waterboarded them enough. >> kimberly: three people have been waterboarded.e gone through training and have been waterboarding. americans. so let's stop getting crazy about this. >> dana: that has been several years and we could talk about this all night. but up next, do you know that penn state is still paying, the alleged sex abuser more than most americans make every year. we have details next. ♪ ♪ daddy, come in the water! somebody didn't book with travelocity, with 24/7 customer support to help move them to theool daddy promised! look at me, i'm swimming! somebody, get her a pony! [ female announcer ] the travelocity guarantee. from the price to the room to the trip you'll never roam alone. the world needs more energy. where's it going to come from? ♪ that's why right here, in australia, chevron is building one of the biggest natural gas projects in the world. enough power for a city the size of singapore for 50 years. what's it going to do to the planet? natural gas is the cleanest conventional fuel there is. we've got to be smart about this. it's a sma

you don't think we waterboarded them enough. >> kimberly: three people have been waterboarded.e gone through training and have been waterboarding. americans. so let's stop getting crazy about this. >> dana: that has been several years and we could talk about this all night. but up next, do you know that penn state is still paying, the alleged sex abuser more than most americans make every year. we have details next. ♪ ♪ daddy, come in the water! somebody didn't book with travelocity, with 24/7 customer support to help move them to theool daddy promised! look at me, i'm swimming! somebody, get her a pony! [ female announcer ] the travelocity guarantee. from the price to the room to the trip you'll never roam alone. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> bob: we talk about something that used to drink something that nobody remembers. sweet or whatever. welcome back to five. jerry sandusky the former penn state football coach accused of sexually abusing eight young boys is reportedly still receiving $60,00,000 a year from the school. let me make my point about. this being a former football player and aro

you don't think we waterboarded them enough. >> kimberly: three people have been waterboarded.een waterboarding. americans. so let's stop getting crazy about this. >> dana: that has been several years and we could talk about this all night. but up next, do you know that penn state is still paying, the alleged sex abuser more than most americans make every year. we have details next. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> bob: we talk about something that used to drink something that nobody remembers. sweet or whatever. welcome back to five. jerry sandusky the former penn state football coach accused of sexually abusing eight young boys is reportedly still receiving $60,00,000 a year from the school. let me make my point about. this being a former football player and around the game for a long time. one thing about keeping secrets, when it comes to plays and play book. this is outright, outrageous, disgusting. the idea that they would pay the guy a pension, maybe legally theyvy to pay him a pension. pew we will talk about the ridiculous bail he got, reduction. how the guy is still around and gettin

you don't think we waterboarded them enough. >> kimberly: three people have been waterboarded.een waterboarding. americans. so let's stop getting crazy about this. >> dana: that has been several years and we could talk about this all night. but up next, do you know that penn state is still paying, the alleged sex abuser more than most americans make every year. we have details next. ♪ ♪ look, every day we're using more and more energy. the world needs more energy. where's it going to come from? ♪ that's why right here, in australia, chevron is building one of the biggest natural gas projects in the world. enough power for a city the size of singapore for 50 years. what's it going to do to the planet? natural gas is the cleanest conventional fuel there is. we've got to be smart about this. it's a smart way to go. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> bob: we talk about something that used to drink something that nobody remembers. sweet or whatever. welcome back to five. jerry sandusky the former penn state football coach accused of sexually abusing eight young boys is reportedly still receiving $60,

, waterboarding obviously is the most troubling.you are certainly sailing is as close to the wind as you possibly can. vis-À-vis the actual definition of torture when you do that, whether it's done in three cases to three individual so we are told and whether in any of those cases across the line, i'm not sure you can make that decision without knowing exactly how was done it was done in each case. but it could have come i submit it could have. whether that would result in a war crime or rourke kind prosecution is a much more carbongate story because you have to look at intent and knowledge and lots of issues that don't necessarily come are not necessarily clear. with respect to other methods, again the question is are they severe enough to be torture? are they severe enough to be cruel, or degrading or such? the treatment we have new definitions of those cents the original authorizations were given some years ago. congress has defined better both cruel and degrading treatment as well as those that are torture. again, whether at thi

seriously here, the question about waterboarding came up last night in the debates. the president got a question about it as well, from you. what did you think of his response? >> well, i thought it was a very direct response. i was asking him to comment on whether or not he thought it was irresponsible among other things when herman cain and michele bachmann and others said that they supported waterboarding. and take a listen to how the president was very blunt in his response to my question. >> let me just say this. they're wrong. waterboarding is torture. it's contrary to america's traditions. it's contrary to our ideals. it's not who we are. that's not how we operate. we don't need it in order to prosecute the war on terrorism. and we did the right thing by ending that practice. if we want to lead around the world, part of our leadership is setting a good example. and anybody who has actually read about and understands the practice of waterboarding would say that that is torture. and that's not something we do. period. >> now the president was also asked a questi

here he was responding to those waterboarding comments himself. >> waterboarding is torture. it's contrary to america's traditions. it's contrary to our ideals. that's not who we are. that's not how we operate. we don't need it in order to prosecute the war on terrorism. and we did the right thing by ending that practice. >> there we go, david. and i have to tell you that people like colin powell have different views than people like dick cheney. i'm telling you, this the turning it over to the generals doesn't solve your problem. you can get a psychiatrist to say anything, you can get a general to say anything. what a stupid comment. >> well, cain got it exactly wrong, when he said he would go with what the military says. actually, the military handbook doesn't include waterboarding. it was the cia and other intelligence services that used these so-called enhanced interrogation techniques. david petraeus and others in the military have never used it. so it just really shows that he's not -- >> good for you. >> -- ready for prime-time, but yet he throws the red meat out. i'll

>> if i were president, i would be willing to use waterboarding. i think it was very effective, it gained information for our country. >> well, waterboarding is torture. it's illegal under international law. it is also immoral. >> we should not torture. waterboarding is torture. >> i would return to that policy. i don't see it as torture. i see it as an enhanced interrogation technique. >> reporter: the debate over what constitutes torture. but where the candidates were united was in their criticism of president obama and his handling of iran. i want to bring in jake tapper tonight, traveling with the president. and curious how the white house responded, in particular to this from mitt romney. >> if we re-elect barack obama, iran will have a nuclear weapon. >> jake, presidents rarely acknowledge watching these debates but there was reaction to what mr. romney mad to say? >> reporter: david, it's a frustrating issue for the white house and so far the iran policy has not convinced the iranian leadership to stop their nuclear weapon m ambitions. white

let's just listen to what the president had to say. >> waterboarding is torture. it's contrary to america's traditions. it's contrary to our ideals. that's not who we are. that's not how we operate. we don't need it in order to prosecute the war on terrorism. we did the right thing by ending that practice. >> reporter: it's also interesting, richard, just a few minutes laters he was asked about republicans hammering him on his iran policies. mitt romney has accused him of not being tough enough on iran. in that instance we saw the president say, i'm not going to engage, which is, as you pointed out, something we've been hearing a lot lately. so it's possible that because iran is something that is still being negotiated, that he didn't want to jump into the fray in that instance. in fact, there was some news on that front this weekend. president obama meeting with the presidents of russia and china. both of them affirming their commitment to working with the u.s. to prevent iran from getting a nuclear weapon. it's also worth noting, richard, that the election arm o

presidential candidates herman cain and michele bachmann saying that they are in favor of waterboarding it seems there's not a prevailing opinion that what goes on to get mo needs to stunt talk about this as it relates to you know the future. well it's it's just remarkable that that first of all that they would be willing to send that message to the rest of the world if they want to support a torture techniques such as waterboarding they should also say that they want to rip you to the convention against torture which the u.s. has signed. i think that there is this notion that. that waterboarding or any other torture technique is you know has proved useful we still have these debates revolving around the efficacy of torture it's been proven time and again by people who are who who are on the ground who are actually involved in those interrogations but these techniques did not work that these techniques were not used to extract any information but rather it was used to to get tickets for the to basically get the detainees to be compliant to comply with their interrogators the interrogato

and why we prosecuted people for the very same act of waterboarding after world war ii was over. any military lawyer, and they will tell you that it is illegal. i hope they will look into the issue. >> you just mentioned, the president has had a hard time keeping his promise to close guantanamo bay and i don't want to revisit that, but i'm fond of often saying running for president is very different than being president. i want you to listen to governor romney here talking about iran at the debate saturday night. >> if we re-elect barack obama, iran will have a nuclear weapon. and if we elect mitt romney, they will not have a nuclear weapon. >> sounds great, senator. but easier said than done? >> well, i think it's easier said than done. but i think that governor romney is on the right track here. we have to make it clear to the iranians that they cannot and will not have a nuclear weapon. and one of the greatest con nun conundrums we face today is whether israel will take action. they have acted in the case of a syria reactor, iraqi reactor, and i think that this is a situation

>> with respect to waterboarding and the other aggressive interrogation methods that were approved, waterboard income is the most troubling. you are sailing as close to the wind as you possibly can vis a vis the actual definition of torture. do that. what was done in three cases to three individuals, so we are told. whether in any of this case as they crossed the line, i do not know if you could make the decision without knowing how it was done in each case. i admit that it could have, whether it would result in a war crime or a prosecution is a more complicated story because you have to look at intent, knowledge, lots of issues that are not necessarily clear. with respect to other methods, again, the question is are they severe enough to be tortured? are they severe enough to be cruel, degrading, or such? we now have new definitions of those since the original authorizations were given some years ago. congress has defined better both cruel and degrading treatment as well as torture. again, whether at this point, waterboarding cannot be used because it is not in the military manual, which cong

lot of warranty waterboarding three. and you'll never guess what one children's health is for risk of your. country what it is or we thought it supposed to be in order to realize that this idea of the ninety nine percent has been born and i nine percent that can't relate to the going percent the lives on a different plane that's completely untouchable but on this veterans day i'd like for us to look at another one percent that the rest of the country has such a distance from i'd like to take for a piece will be coming out in time later this month mark thompson and he looks at the number of troops that have fought in our wars since nine eleven and around afghanistan and iraq and that number is about two point four million that's exactly one percent of the two hundred forty million americans over the age of eighteen so it's the one percent as of five wars lose lives limbs family friends in some cases lose their sanity and their sense of humanity and they're doing this supposedly on our behalf that's what they've sworn to d

waterboarding is torture.r john mccain who served this country and we know his history and story. what do you make between mccain and the candidates? >> he is quick to thrust himself into the center. >> you think it's a news cycle? >> he was the candidate in 2008 and he took a stance that was at odds with much of the people in the party and you are seeing a bunch of people compete for electorate that believes waterboarding is a necessary technique. >> they are playing to the audience? >> they are saying what they feel that their voters might support, sure. i think john mccain has always shown a propensity to disagree with the base. that is in fact why we are not talking about president mccain right now. he should go his own way. >> that's not the only reason we are not talking about president mccain. we are out of time. gloria cain is going to defend her husband in this. taking a huge dip in the cnn poll and a tiny dip in the recount poll. is it over for him and perry? >> i think so? the issue for cain is not

reiterated that he believes waterboarding constitutes torture and contrary to america's traditions. >rman cain and michelle bachmann said during a saturday debate they would reinstate waterboarding. the technique which makes someone feel like they are drowning was authorized by president job. barack obama banned the practice when he took office. >>> president obama will be attending a democratic party fundraiser today before returning to washington. asia pacific leaders declared their support to further free-up trade saying it is crucial to a lasting global economic recovery. mr. obama spoke about the asia pacific region and how it is now the van guard for global growth. -- >> the president: many of our top trading partners in this region. since this is the world's fastest growing region, the asia pacific is key to achieve my goal of doubling u.s. exports. >> president says it is time for china to move quicker to get its currency in line with the market-based system. >> the commercial crab season begins tomorrow. lovers of crab are waiting anxiously to see the quality. fishermen and b

sheikh mohammad khatami was waterboarded 183 times in one -- khalid shaikh mohammed was waterboarded 183 times in one month. this is some of the information we have confirmed. given the fact that you have sessions going over 40 minutes, 183 sessions in one month, would you consider that the evidence to support a formal investigation of torture? >> with respect, there were at least two investigations i am aware of, and as careful lawyers, we know something now, including evidence you describe. we had career lawyers who would love to prosecute people who they believe bristol all and would like to make -- who they believe broke the law. they decided not to go forward. we believe in the role all. we have to accord a considerable level of credibility to those results. >> de you believe right now that waterboarding 100 to the -- 183 times in 30 days would be enough to you to say we need to investigate this new information? >> presented this way, and these are troubling facts, but what we are missing here, we are a civilized people. if calling it 180-plus waterboarding sections describes a

. >> firn president i would be willing to use waterboarding. i think it was very effective. (cheers and applause) it gained information for our country. >> woodruff: still, some have made missteps along the way. in a september debate, texas governor rick perry when asked what he would do if he got a 3:00 a.m. call saying the taliban had gotten nuclear weapons from pakistan. >> well, obviously, before you get to that point off build a relationship in that region. that's one of the things that this administration has not done. >> reporter: and herman cain was stumped when asked about president obama's handling of the conflict in libya. >> okay, libya. >> first of all i don't think you can take... a. >> woodruff: huntsman, a former u.s. ambassador to china, is the only contender with foreign policy experience. >> we can't just sit back and let china run all over us. people say well, you'll start a trade war. there's one going on right now, folks. >> well, the reality is a little different, as it usually is when you're on the ground. i tried figure out for 30 years in my career.

waterboarding is torture. >> reporter: a new poll out today says cain is still leading among republicans but in a head-to-head matchup with president obama, people surveyed favored the president. same goes for mitt romney. in a head-to-head matchup, that poll shows the president would win but in a generic contest against a republican, they would win. >>> yesterday, nfl great franco harris defended his college coach. >> he did his job. people higher than him. fit went all the way to the president, that is stuff they should do, they should take care of. >>> a civil suit is being prepared against the university. pennsylvania's governor wouldn't be surprised if more alleged victims come forward. >> reporter: the pat attorney general, department of education and the school itself have all launched investigations into the child sex abuse scandal, focusing on penn state's response to allegations that former star defensive coach jerry sandusky repeatedly molested, raped, or abused eight young boys over a 15-year period, dating back to 1994. interim president rodney ericks erickson. >> we will be

obama was also asked about this exchange on the controversial use of waterboarding. >> i don't see it as torture, i see it as enhanced interrogation technique. >> if i were president i would be willing to use waterboarding. (cheers and applause) i think it was very effective. it gained information for our country. >> reporter: but the president wasted no time in calling his opponents uninformed. >> let me just say this: they're wrong. and anybody who has actually read about and understands the practice of waterboarding would say that that is torture. and that's not something we do. period. >> reporter: president t president has had stronger approval ratings on foreign policy than the economy. the economy is his weak point. and that's why his advisors say this trip through the asia-pacific is so important because it's about boosting world trade which the president hopes in turn means more american jobs. >> pelley: thanks, norah. there is more fallout tonight from the child sex abuse scandal at penn state. today the president of the children's charity founded by former assistant footbal