[Wash Times] A retired general and Fox Business Network guest argued Thursday that torture works on detainees, and as proof cited the example of one of its principal opponents ‐ Sen. John McCain.Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney went further though than criticizing the Arizona Republican’s opposition to confirming Gina Haspel as CIA director. He also called the Vietnam-era POW as "Songbird John," a word choice that prompted FBN host Charles Payne to apologize to Mr. McCain.
"The fact is, is John McCain ‐ it worked on John. That’s why they call him ’Songbird John,’" Lt. Gen. McInerney said in an appearance.
Mr. McCain was captured by the North Vietnamese when his Navy jet was shot down and held as a prisoner. His guards at the "Hanoi Hilton" tied him with ropes and beat him every two hours even though he was suffering from dysentery and had been injured in his plane’s crash.
Mr. McCain eventually signed a confession to being "a black criminal" and an "air pirate," though it didn’t end the beatings because he refused to sign more confessions. He said years later: "I had learned what we all learned over there: every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine."