Why It Was Called 'Water Torture' (Washington Post)

[marcellobarrios]

By Richard E. Mezo
Sunday, February 10, 2008; B07

Last week, much to my dismay, government officials testified before Congress that the United States has used the interrogation technique known as waterboarding and would like to hold out the option of using it in the future. As someone who has experienced waterboarding, albeit in a controlled setting, I know that the act is indeed torture. I was waterboarded during my training to become a Navy flight crew member. As has been noted in The Post and other media outlets, waterboarding is "real drowning that simulates death." It's an experience our country should not subject people to.

...I remember that the blindfold was heavy and completely covered my face. As the two men held me down, one on each side, someone began pouring water onto the blindfold, and suddenly I was drowning. The water streamed into my nose and then into my mouth when I gasped for breath. I couldn't stop it. All I could breathe was water, and it was terrifying. I think I began to lose consciousness. I felt my lungs begin to fill with burning liquid.

Story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/08/AR2008020803156_pf.html

[AlertLurker]

1. If it was deemed torture after WWII...

as the trial records of Japanese War Criminals tried at Yokohama indicate, why is it OK now?

I suppose you can no longer ask Chinsaku Yuki, as he was condemned to death for Waterboarding in his 1947 Yokohama WAR CRIMES trial...

[MasonJar]

2. Send all the perpetrators (i.e. the ones who authorized such a monstrous action)

to the Hague or in lieu of that submit them to waterboarding to see how they like it. Who are the scum who run our country? Why do they like to torture people?