Debate Torture for GOP Hopefuls

Front-runners clash over interrogation techniques, conservative credibility
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted May 16, 2007 7:25 AM CDT

Ten Republican presidential candidates mixed it up in an often boisterous and contentious debate last night at the University of South Carolina. John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, in particular, clashed on the war in Iraq, abortion rights, immigration, each other's conservative credentials and the use of torture in a national emergency.

One nightmarish hypothetical asked the candidates to imagine a captive terrorist with vital knowledge of a forthcoming attack. How aggressive can interrogation become? Only McCain emphatically ruled out torture or similar techniques; Giuliani and Romney backed aggressive questioning. Romney then one-upped his opponents, saying he'd like to see the detention center at Guantanamo Bay double in size. (More GOP stories.)

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