CIA Director Brennan: No Waterboarding – Even If a President Orders It

The United States will never use harsh "enhanced interrogation" practices, including waterboarding again – even if a future president orders it, CIA Director John Brennan told NBC News.

"I will not agree to carry out some of these tactics and techniques I've heard bandied about because this institution needs to endure," Brennan saidd.

"Absolutely, I would not agree to having any CIA officer carrying out waterboarding again," he added when asked specifically about waterboarding.

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has said he would consider not only waterboarding, but other methods that are "a hell of a lot worse" on terrorism suspects. His main rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz also has indicated he doesn't view waterboarding as torture, though he said he would "not bring it back in any sort of widespread use."

Though waterboarding and other enhanced techniques were used on suspects following the 9/11 attacks, President Barack Obama ended their use with an executive order shortly after taking office in 2009.

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