John McCain: CIA Torture Methods 'Stained Our National Honor'

Sen. John McCain, who was captured and tortured by the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War, stepped up on the Senate floor Monday to condemn U.S. conduct in a new report that sheds new light on U.S. interrogations in the wake of the 9-11 attacks, The Huffington Post reported.

McCain said the CIA's efforts to force information from detainees "stained our national honor, did much harm and little practical good."

McCain denounced the CIA's vigorous torture methods and said citizens have the right to fully grasp the methods used by their government to extract information from enemies.

"They must know when the values that define our nation are intentionally disregarded by our security policies, even those policies that are conducted in secret," McCain said in a passionate Senate floor speech, The Huffington Post noted.

"They must be able to make informed judgments about whether those policies and the personnel who supported them were justified in compromising our values; whether they served a greater good; or whether, as I believe, they stained our national honor, did much harm and little practical good."

McCain acknowledged the harsh conduct by investigators but said the nation must be open about its own behavior, The Washington Times reported.

“The truth is sometimes a hard pill to swallow. It sometimes causes us difficulties at home and abroad. It is sometimes used by our enemies in attempts to hurt us. But the American people are entitled to it, nonetheless,” McCain said.

Meanwhile, as debate about the investigation continued in Congress, officials expressed concern that release of the report could spark backlash and violence at U.S. military facilities abroad, USA Today noted.

"There are some indications that the release of the report could lead to a greater risk that is posed to U.S. facilities and individuals all around the world," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest, according to USA Today. "So the administration has taken the prudent steps to ensure that the proper security precautions are in place at U.S. facilities around the globe."

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