N.Y. state senator advocates torture in Boston case

Joseph Spector, Gannett Albany (N.Y.) Bureau | USATODAY

ALBANY -- A New York state senator is advocating using torture on terrorism suspects, including the Boston Marathon bombing suspect.

On Friday just after Boston authorities captured Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, state Sen. Greg Ball, a Republican from Patterson, N.Y., in Putnam County tweeted, "Who wouldn't use torture on this punk to save more lives?"

The tweet drew critical responses.

Over the weekend, Ball issued a statement defending his comment and appeared on Fox News on Monday to stress that torture should be used to thwart terrorism.

"And it comes down to this," Ball said. "When you talk about terrorism, information matters. And if getting that information, including torture, would save one innocent life -- including, that we've seen, children -- would you use torture? I can tell you I would be first in line."

Ball, who said he was just speaking his opinion, said he believed it is one shared by most Americans.

The second-term senator said he, like most New Yorkers, would have liked some time alone with Osama bin Laden.

"How many New Yorkers who wouldn't have appreciated at least 30 minutes in a room alone with Osama bin Laden? I know I would," Ball said. "It would have been me, Osama bin Laden and a baseball bat."

Ball said the country needs to be more aggressive in its pursuit of potential terrorists.

"In the United States of America, we have people who believe that we can play patty cake," he said. "These terrorists play by a different set of rules. ... You have to take the fight to them."

Ball said he's not shy to join those who believe torture is justified in the war on terror to save lives.

He said that includes suspects apprehended in the United States by civil authorities.

Ball said the Boston incident shows this may be a new normal and Americans should see it as a wake-up call to use a different set of rules.

Contributing: The Associated Press