Monday, July 07, 2008

Waterboarding Mystery Solved.

Let's start with an admission. My anti-establishment streak loves his contrarian stance (Iraq War not withstanding) on so many subjects. He's got a great way with words, even on the Iraq War.
And anybody who listens to Rabbi Gordon Schumway's definition of god and dismisses it as so much "white noise" gets some respect from me.
His stance on waterboarding, et al has not had my support. Categorically not. Anyone who even acknowledges, let alone promotes, the horrible euphemism of "enhanced interrogation techniques" loses several points on his personal status Nasdaq right there.
To his credit, when challenged he underwent waterboarding. And lo', he hath seen the light:
Believe Me, It's Torture: Politics & Power: vanityfair.com
You may have read by now the official lie about this treatment, which is that it “simulates” the feeling of drowning. This is not the case. You feel that you are drowning because you are drowning—or, rather, being drowned, albeit slowly and under controlled conditions and at the mercy (or otherwise) of those who are applying the pressure. The “board” is the instrument, not the method. You are not being boarded. You are being watered.

Wow, you can here the tune change faster than Patsy Cline finishing her set opening for Henry Rollins.
And you can watch it here.
(HT to The Rev , Dispatches and Crooks and Liars for getting there before me.)
Bonus Torture Comment:
The Rev notices something that came up on Slate the other day, namely that the torture techniques and program are lifted from 1950's era Chinese techniques to elicit false confessions.
That's some mighty fine interrogation, Lou.

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