Trump: I Will Reinstate 'Waterboarding' to Combat ISIS

Donald Trump, the leading Republican candidate for the U.S. presidential election, stated that if elected, he would use torture methods such as 'waterboarding' to combat the Islamic State group. In an interview with ABC on February 6, he said, 'It has become like the Middle Ages... If it were up to me and necessary, I would definitely reinstate (torture) waterboarding.' Waterboarding is a torture method that simulates drowning by depriving the detainee of air and forcing water into their lungs. Historical instances of this torture have been attributed to groups such as the Spanish Inquisition, the Khmer Rouge, the Gestapo, the French during the Algerian War, and certain CIA interrogators during George W. Bush's administration. Barack Obama banned waterboarding and several other forms of torture upon taking office. According to Reuters, George Stephanopoulos, the host of ABC's 'This Week,' asked Trump if this meant he would also consider methods similar to those used by ISIS, such as beheading. The Republican candidate responded, 'We will do things beyond simulating drowning.' Trump argues that stronger interrogation methods are necessary to combat contemporary 'evil,' stating, 'They laugh at us. Our enemies laugh at us. They say waterboarding! They don’t even think of it as a form of... you know... they don’t even see it as real torture.' The primary elections for the Democratic and Republican parties, the two main parties in the U.S., have begun to nominate candidates for the 2016 presidential election. The first stage, held as 'caucuses' in Iowa, ended with Ted Cruz's victory for the Republicans. The next stage will take place in New Hampshire on Tuesday.