The nation’s highest-ranking military officer on Thursday rejected proposals from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to resume waterboarding and bomb civilians.
Mr. Trump, the GOP front-runner, has called for changing laws to allow tougher interrogation practices against terrorists, including waterboarding, a technique used on three al Qaeda members during the George W. Bush administration.
Mr. Trump has also called for killing the family members of terrorists.
Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, Joint Chiefs chairman, was asked about the candidate’s positions by Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican and ardent foe of Mr. Trump.
“Our men and women … they go to war with the values of our nations,” the Iraq combatant answered. “Those kinds of activities that you described are inconsistent with the values of our nation. And quite frankly, I think it would have an adverse effect. … One of them would be on the morale of the force. And frankly, what you are suggesting are things that actually aren’t legal for them to do anyway.”
Mr. Trump would inherit Gen. Dunford as his chief military adviser if elected commander in chief.
Mr. Trump has said recently that he would follow all international laws on war fighting, which prohibit the indiscriminate killing of civilians but allow targeted strikes on military installations that may house civilians.
• Rowan Scarborough can be reached at rscarborough@washingtontimes.com.
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