White House won't rule out waterboarding

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. government flatly would not rule out waterboarding if it thought the controversial interrogation technique was useful, a White House spokesman said.

CIA Director Michael Hayden told a congressional hearing the technique was used in 2002 and 2003 but not since, and the information obtained from its use accounted for a quarter of the CIA intelligence reports on al-Qaida activities, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

When asked whether waterboarding -- which simulates drowning -- would be ruled out for future possible use, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Wednesday there was a "process whereby the administration would consider any enhanced interrogation techniques."

The process involves the CIA, the U.S. attorney general and the president, who "would listen to the determinations of his advisers and make a decision," Fratto said. Once a decision is made, pertinent congressional leaders would be notified.

Fratto did not dismiss waterboarding's future. "I'm not speculating at all on what circumstances in the future would cause the director of the CIA to make a proposal," he said.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey said during congressional testimony waterboarding isn't being used now, so commenting on its legality would be "inappropriate."