McCain's Vietnam jailers would vote for him even though he lied about torture

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23913198-23109,00.html

REPUBLICAN US presidential candidate John McCain has got some unexpected support from his former Vietnam War jailer, who said he would vote for the former navy pilot if he could.

Speaking to the BBC from Haiphong, Tran Trong Duyet also insisted that Senator McCain's assertions that he was tortured during his time at the prison were lies, and that no one held there was ever subjected to torture.

Describing Senator McCain as his "friend", Mr Duyet told the broadcaster: "If I was American, I would vote for him".

The 71-year-old Arizona senator was shot down over Hanoi in 1967 and jailed for 5½ years, mostly in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton".

"I don't know how he'd react if he met me again," Mr Duyet said on the BBC.

"We used to argue about the war - about whether it was right or wrong ... He is a very frank man - very conservative, and very loyal to his country and the American ideal.

"He had a very interesting accent and sometimes he taught me words in English and corrected my accent. I have followed his career since he left prison," said Mr Duyet, who the BBC said was now a 75-year-old retiree and amateur ballroom dancer.

"Of course the Americans started the war in Vietnam and killed so many people - but now we want to leave the past behind.

"So now I consider John McCain my friend because he did much to mend relations between our two countries. And if he becomes president he will do more to improve those ties."

He also said Senator McCain's assertions that he was tortured were false.

"We never tortured him," he was quoted as saying.

"We never tortured any prisoners ... He did not tell the truth. But I can somehow sympathise with him. He lies to American voters in order to get their support for his presidential election."