Waterboarding: Interrogation Or Torture?
Waterboarding, a controversial interrogation technique that simulates drowning, dates back to at least the Spanish Inquisition, and has been used some of the world's cruelest dictatorships, according to Human Rights Watch.
Forms of waterboarding vary but generally consist of immobilizing an individual on his or her back - head inclined downward - and pouring water over the face to induce the sensation of drowning.
Other techniques include dunking prisoners head-first into water, as was used by Chadian military forces in the mid 1980s. The Khmer Rouge, responsible for the deaths of approximately 1.5 million Cambodians during the 1970s, strapped victims on inclined boards, with feet raised and head lowered, and covered their faces with cloth or cellophane. Water then was poured over their mouths to stimulate drowning.
Waterboarding, long considered a form of torture by the United States, produces a gag reflex and makes the victim believe death is imminent. The technique leaves no visible physical damage.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who was tortured as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, considers waterboarding a form of torture. McCain has been quoted as saying that waterboarding is "no different than holding a pistol to his head and firing a blank."
After World War II, U.S. military commissions prosecuted several Japanese soldiers for subjecting U.S. soldiers to waterboarding, according to Human Rights Watch. In 1968, a U.S. soldier was court-martialed for water boarding a Vietnamese prisoner.
But in October 2006, Vice President Dick Cheney confirmed the United States had used the controversial technique to interrogate senior Al Qaeda suspects, and he said the White House did not consider waterboarding a form of torture.
In the aftermath of September 11, fewer than 100 terrorists have been held in the CIA's secret prisons, and fewer than one third of those have been subjected to what CIA Director Michael Hayden calls "special methods of interrogation," and what others called torture.
"The intelligence they produce is absolutely irreplaceable," Hayden said. "It's been crucial in giving us a better understanding of the enemy we face as well as leads on taking in taking other terrorists off the battlefield."
The CIA says it no longer uses waterboarding.
Cheney confirmed waterboarding was used to interrogate Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, the senior Al Qaeda operative now being held in Guantanamo Bay, adding that the use of the technique was "a no-brainer."
"The Bush administration continues to astonish," said Larry Cox, Amnesty International USA's executive director. "Its own State Department has labeled water boarding torture when it applies to other countries. Yet in President Bush's legal wonderland, water boarding is renamed an enhanced interrogation technique. President Bush continues to assert that his administration is complying with U.S. and international law, yet every available fact has proven the contrary."
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. Forms of waterboarding vary but generally consist of immobilizing an individual on his or her back - head inclined downward - and pouring water over the face to induce the sensation of drowning.
Other techniques include dunking prisoners head-first into water, as was used by Chadian military forces in the mid 1980s. The Khmer Rouge, responsible for the deaths of approximately 1.5 million Cambodians during the 1970s, strapped victims on inclined boards, with feet raised and head lowered, and covered their faces with cloth or cellophane. Water then was poured over their mouths to stimulate drowning.
Waterboarding, long considered a form of torture by the United States, produces a gag reflex and makes the victim believe death is imminent. The technique leaves no visible physical damage.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who was tortured as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, considers waterboarding a form of torture. McCain has been quoted as saying that waterboarding is "no different than holding a pistol to his head and firing a blank."
After World War II, U.S. military commissions prosecuted several Japanese soldiers for subjecting U.S. soldiers to waterboarding, according to Human Rights Watch. In 1968, a U.S. soldier was court-martialed for water boarding a Vietnamese prisoner.
But in October 2006, Vice President Dick Cheney confirmed the United States had used the controversial technique to interrogate senior Al Qaeda suspects, and he said the White House did not consider waterboarding a form of torture.
In the aftermath of September 11, fewer than 100 terrorists have been held in the CIA's secret prisons, and fewer than one third of those have been subjected to what CIA Director Michael Hayden calls "special methods of interrogation," and what others called torture.
"The intelligence they produce is absolutely irreplaceable," Hayden said. "It's been crucial in giving us a better understanding of the enemy we face as well as leads on taking in taking other terrorists off the battlefield."
The CIA says it no longer uses waterboarding.
Cheney confirmed waterboarding was used to interrogate Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, the senior Al Qaeda operative now being held in Guantanamo Bay, adding that the use of the technique was "a no-brainer."
"The Bush administration continues to astonish," said Larry Cox, Amnesty International USA's executive director. "Its own State Department has labeled water boarding torture when it applies to other countries. Yet in President Bush's legal wonderland, water boarding is renamed an enhanced interrogation technique. President Bush continues to assert that his administration is complying with U.S. and international law, yet every available fact has proven the contrary."
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After watching Republican Huckabee interview with John Yoo. The lawyer that justify watering boarding! Huchabee was trying to keep the lie going. That waterboarding was responsible for the capture and killing of Bin Laden! It is so very obvious that Republican Huckabee. Like many Republican are trying to take away the accomplishment of President Obama! This stupid claim that President G.W. Bush water board three terrorist in 2001. Got information that could have led to Bin Laden capture&BUT did NOTHING! Is totally ridiculous! Also criminal on the part of Bush! If he claims to have had information that could have gotten Bin Laden in 2001. He should be arrest and tried and imprison for withholding! Huckabee also stated that WE are not like them. They don't have the same morals as US! WE who? US who? Is Huckabee talking about white people or Americans or men? Because white Americans in America have raped black children and adults enslave and killed them! JUST BECAUSE THEY COULD! Is Huckabee talking about Americans? That have shot unarmed black handcuff Americans. AND NEVER GAVE THEM OPPORTUNITY TO SURRENDER!!!!! Many blacks shot in the back face down on the ground! Is Huckabee talking about men? That have taser children as young as five and murder adult as old as 92! So who are the we and us? Remember WACO Texas? 74 America burn and shot by American Federal Government! Rodney King beating like a dog by four white American cops! While 26 white American officer watch and did nothing to stop the crime! Remember Philly and the MOVE members. 11 murder all unarmed 6 children! Burn down over a 100 homes! Huckabee like many white Republican have selective memory. Or just trying to mislead the American people for political gain! Under President Obama the operation to capture Bin Laden was a six month plan! SIX MONTHS!!!!!! Bush was in office for eight years! Bush stated that Bin Laden WAS NOT a priority! Bush was told many months before 9/11 that Bin Laden was going to attack America! Bush replied" "I don't swat flies"!
In America you have to be wrongly murder in mass numbers. To be identify and honor as being wrongly murdered! Like the wrongful deaths of the 9/11 victims! There are parks in their honor and yearly remembrance of the victims of 9/11! Now American minorities are seen as less then human and non-Americans! So it's ok to wrongly murder them! Cops that wrongly murder unarmed blacks are honor and promoted! Like in the case of Danroy Henry. Officer Aaron Hess was given the award , angering the family of Danroy Henry, who called the honor a slap in the face! The Pleasantville Police Benevolent Association, comprised of about 20 members, chose Hess for the honor primarily for how he has handled the shooting and its aftermath. Hess suffered a knee injury in the incident and has yet to return to work. Denroy Henry is dead forever!!! A grand jury declined to indict him and the other officer. Unlike Bin Laden the media never asked was American Danroy Henry given the opportunity to surrender! Not one American pundit report that American Danroy Henry was unarmed! Unlike questioning the action of the Navy Seals. The white control media never question American police officers. That murder and beat and abuse their authority!
Americans have witness bullying daily in America. Americans have turn our TV on and seen and say nothing reported nothing! Identifying bullying in America is easy! If you turn COPS or any court TV show like Judge Brown Judge Mathis and Judge Judy. In my opinion Judge Judy is the worse of the worse! Judge Judy is a bully! From her bias statements about teens and men! Like "if you want to know a teen is lying. Every time they open their mouth"! Or men are immature and don't develop to age 30! She have told men she doesn't see it" referring to their looks. She have told men that you don't look like you miss any meals. Referring to their weight. I heard her call a male litigant a THINK! Yelling at senior citizen and threatening children! Telling litigants that they are lazy or using the government. If they receive disability welfare SSI or unemployment! This is a 30 million dollar a year millionaire. That the government has given a tax cut! Judge Mathis and Brown both have threaten litigant with bodily harm. Judge Brown plays to the TV and courtroom audience! He will yell and call litigant names. Like "you fool' "punk" ghetto' and allow litigant to talk and argue with each other. To boosted his rating! Judge Mathis is a evil bully that get a attitude! Totally unprofessional! He also makes allot of mistakes. American children look at these program and see people in authority. Bullying people! They copy the same behavior! Now the new comer to court TV Nancy Grace. She is a Judge Judy wantobe! She is nasty and many times racist. She seem to question black people tattoo and jewelry! Asking how can you afford that! She has yelled at litigant and referred to a female hey Lady" The show COPS shows police officer around the country that abuse suspects and disrespecting their rights of Americans in their custody! There should be no wonder why there is so much bullying in America! Being nasty is rewarded! Movie like "Mean Girls" "Godfather 1 2 3" and many many others! Where is American authority that govern these program! Where is the people that protect Americans! Fox News Sean Hannity is a racist bully &Bill O'Reilly is a angry racist bully. Glenn Beck is a mentality ill racist very sick bully! Sarah Palin is a stupid lying bully! Rep. Peter King is one of the nasty unprofessional racist politician and evil bully! And America watch and imitates!
I remember weeks after President Obama took office. The white control media and the Republican Party attack President Obama any time he mention former President G.W. Bush. Immediately President Obama was told that the Iraq and Afghanistan war was now his wars! Today those same want to give credit of the capture and killing of Bin Laden! To former President G. W. Bush! BS!!!!! Now that President Obama's administration capture and killed Bin Laden. Now that under President Obama leadership and direction. Now that President Obama gave the capture and or murder of Bin Laden a priority! Now that President Obama accomplish what President G.W Bush could not and did not DO! The Republicans and the American media. Now wants to give Bush's water boarding credit for contributing to the locating and killing of Bin Laden! WRONG WRONG WRONG! First there is no evident that waterboarding ever works! Torturing a human being may get you nothing more then LIES! Human being lie and or confess because they are in pain they are in fear and they are being torture! Remember the New York Central Park rape of a young white female? Six black young men where torture by police officers and confess. Years after spending over 4 to five years in prison. The one man that committed the crime confess! None of the five convicted had nothing to do with the rape NOTHING!!! Then what really outrage me. Claims where made that Bin Laden was unarmed and should have been given the opportunity to surrender. That to me further disrespects the many black unarmed American shot dead by mostly white police in America! Not one of these white pundit ever speaks to that fact about American citizen! You never heard after black unarmed Sean Bell was gun down in a hale of 51 bullets! That he was not given a chance to surrender! Nor 92 year old black Kathryn Johnston shot 39 time 6 bullets hitting there mark. So this hypocritical claim that Bin Laden that is responsible for over 455,000 and counting deaths! IS sickening! Also any idiot that claim the Bush administration waterboard&Got information THEN did nothing with the information &.IS STUPID! Or the idiots stating that Bush's waterboarding in 2001&.Help President Obama capture and killing Bin Laden in 2011! Remember G.W Bush stated to America that Bin Laden WAS NOT a priority! So these idiot are saying that Bush got the information needed to capture and or kill Bin Laden. And did nothing! Then Bush should be arrest and imprison for LIFE! President Obama didn't water board anybody! He did it without! Waterboarding had nothing to do with the capture of Bin Laden&Matter of fact it was reported that a phone call from Bin Laden closet friend! Was track and led to the capture! So to you idiot that are only trying to take away from President Obama&..SHUT UP!
Guess enough kids weren''t killed to make it newsworthy. Or, was it just because things were looking good ?
Did you know that the intellectual fathers of the Neo-Cons sat at the feet of Leo Strauss, a German Jew recommended by the Nazi legal theorist Carl Schmitt to the Rockefellars? Think about that for a moment, research it and think about it again and see if anything approaching a genuine thought comes through that pea-sized brain bouncing around in an otherwise empty head.