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Former President George W. Bush recently admitted to the use of waterboarding for interrogations. While some claim the method was justified, critics are outraged at what they call admitting to a war crime. (Video: CurrentTV)

We're looking at reactions from MSNBC, CBS, The Week, HBO and Opposing Views.

On MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann", author Michael Alexander fears the remark will have negative repercussions for the war on terrorism.

ALEXANDER: "It wasn't some grand revelation that our enemies at al-Qaida are going to use the fact that we tortured and abused prisoners against us to recruit new fighters. It wasn't a surprise that this would make future detainees less likely to cooperate with us, and that it would have several other ill-adverse effects for the long term."

But in an interview with CBS a year ago, CIA officer Michael Scheuer said the ends sometimes justify the means.

DAVID MARTIN: "How will we know that less coercive techniques couldn't have produced the same results?"
MICHAEL SCHEUER: "Why would you care? If we got the information we needed and America is better protected, who cares? These are not Americans."

The Obama administration regards waterboarding as a form of torture and therefore, illegal. But a writer for The Week says Mr. Bush only did what was necessary to keep America safe.

"... whatever you think about water-boarding... there's no denying that Bush kept us safe for seven years following 9/11... We should all be grateful he had the guts to make such a tough call ..."

But many are angry because they say the president didn't see it as such a tough call to make.  Guests on Real Time with Bill Maher discuss the former president's attitude during the speech.

ANDREW SULLIVAN: "And what gets me about it is not that he said I wrestled with this question, it was really hard and I made this terrible decision... it's the glibness. It is the sheer — what Cheney called a 'no-brainer'. Someone who thinks that torturing someone is a no-brainer, is a monster."

An article from Opposing Views says the remark reflects a change in American values.

"The lack of public outcry at his remarks demonstrates all too clearly how for most Americans torture has become an acceptable tool in America’s counter-terrorism arsenal."

So what do you think about Bush's admission to waterboarding? Is it a cavalier confession to a war crime, or a show of committment to America's defense?

WRITER: Krysta Brown

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