Waterboarding Demonstration
AlGore’s Current network finally aired something worth watching, a real-life waterboarding.
Watching the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan was cringing because of its realism and display of war’s brutality so I didn’t think I’d make it through the video. But I wanted to watch it because I support the military and intelligence services in using tough interrogation methods. The least I could do was see how far I was willing to let my government go. The “interrogated” subject was roughed up with plenty of tough words said and harsh actions directed against him. Never in the entire viewing did I turn my head away or feel things went too far. The interrogators were very forceful, but they always seemed in control. They made sure the subject’s head was tilted back so he would only get the feeling of drowning instead of actually drowning. Added graphics that informed me the subject was in no danger of drowning also eased my mind. I’ve seen more justified brutality on 24.
Could I waterboard someone? Probably not, but I also don’t think I could shoot someone. (I’m tempermentally non-violent but not a pacifist.) Yet both actions can be justified in some situations. For instance, I feel no pity that Khaled Sheikh Mohammed was waterboarded. He coughed up (pun intended) some valuable information.
I’m with Democrat Kirsten Powers that waterboarding isn’t torture. I’ll steal her words:
To me torture is amputating limbs or digits, ripping out fingernails, drilling holes in feet, starving people…you know, the things Iraqi insurgents and the Hussein clan do/did to people.
Waterboarding is very uncomfortable but not torture. If that’s the worst U.S. interrogators do they’re saints historically speaking.
[video via Hotair]
If we’re arguing about what constitutes torture, isn’t that kind of missing the point?
Every government for the past 100 years, including ours, has considered waterboarding to be torture (as long as it was somebody else doing the waterboarding.)