Sarah Palin says 'waterboarding is how we’d baptize terrorists' if she were President

Palin courts controversy during speech at pro-gun rally in Indianapolis, US

(AP)

Sarah Palin has said that “waterboarding is how we’d baptize terrorists” if she were President of the US.

The former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate made the comments at a National Rifle Association (NRA) rally on Saturday.

She used the appearance at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to launch a stinging criticism of the Obama administration.

Ms Palin said the Obama administration pursued counter-terrorism policies that “coddle adversaries”.

"Come on. Enemies, who would utterly annihilate America, they who'd obviously have information on plots, to carry out Jihad. Oh, but you can't offend them, can't make them feel uncomfortable, not even a smidgen," she said.

"Well, if I were in charge, they would know that waterboarding is how we'd baptize terrorists."

Thousands watched her give the speech at the NRA’s annual meeting, during which Ms Palin accused liberals of “attacking” the second amendment, which inscribes the right for Americans to keep and bear arms, as well as the “foundational values and tradition” of the US.

She went on to accuse gun-free zones in public buildings as “stupid on steroids” because they won’t “stop the bad guys”.

Watch her speech below: