There's a thread on the Straight Dope message board that is VERY enlightening on the subject. A participant there, one Scylla, is an intelligent, educated, and vocal conservative--basically that board's Ustwo. He'd been arguing for the use of advanced interrogation techniques earlier in other threads. Just to see what all the hoopla is about, and to settle for himself the question of whether it's torture, he waterboarded himself.
He
physically did it himself--controlling the flow of water, his physical position. His plan had been to try it that way, then have his wife help with a second attempt.
He says:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Scylla
I didn't allow anybody else to try it on me. Inconceivable. I know I only got the barest taste of what it's about since I was in control, and not restrained and controlling the flow of water.
But there's no chance. No chance at all.
So, is it torture?
I'll put it this way. If I had the choice of being waterboarded by a third party or having my fingers smashed one at a time by a sledgehammer, I'd take the fingers, no question.
It's horrible, terrible, inhuman torture. I can hardly imagine worse. I'd prefer permanent damage and disability to experiencing it again. I'd give up anything, say anything, do anything.
The Spanish Inquisition knew this. It was one of their favorite methods.
It's torture. No question. Terrible terrible torture. To experience it and understand it and then do it to another human being is to leave the realm of sanity and humanity forever. No question in my mind.
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The thread is VERY interesting reading, and I recommend at least the OP to every single person posting in this thread. I can't imagine you considering yourself well informed on the subject of waterboarding without reading at least that.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/...d.php?t=448717