On Wed, 06 May 2009 22:37:03 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports
wrote:



Several names have been used inconjunction with this type of
interrogation technique. The Spanish used to call it tortura del agua
during the Inquisition and it has various other names from
"surfboarding" to "showering" to it's more recent contraction from
water board torture to waterboarding. In my experience, it's always
been called water boarding and described as a form of hydropathic
torture. There are even references to it as far back as Third Dynasty
Egypt where it was called "water trial" and the Romans called it
"water truth telling".

The interesting thing is that the technique has always been true in
terms of practice - cloth, upside down, water forced into nasal
passages and the mouth simulating drowning no matter what it was
called.

Not being a pedant, just pointing something out. :)

In the SERE program, it's always been called water boarding.

Right. In the procedure manual it's probably in a chapter called
"Enemy Torture Techniques." My point to Eisboch was it's plain silly
to "debate" whether or not it's torture.
For example, 2 U.S. government torturers are finishing their coffee
in the torturers lounge, or maybe at Starbucks.
The experienced old pro torturer and the trainee. Phil and Ted.
Phil: "Hey, let's get back to work, kid. The guy they picked up in
Queens ain't talking. Looks like he's needs some torture."
Ted: "I'm from Queens. ****in' ragheads taking over the place.
We gonna waterboard him, Phil?"
Phil: "Hell kid. You got a lot to learn. Waterboarding isn't
torture. It's just an "Enhanced Interogation Technique."
Ted: "Then let's enhanced interrogation technique the cocksucker until
he talks."
Phil: "Now you're catching on. I got a feeling you'll do well."
So they get to the "office," and Ted sees the guy prepped on the
board.
Ted: "Hey, that's my brother!"
Phil; "No ****!? He's been visiting that Arab coffee shop on Ditmars.
It's pegged as a terrorist cell hangout."
Ted: "Yeah, he likes that Arab-style coffee. That's all."
Phil: "Sure, that's his story. But we'll get the truth out of him."
Ted: "You sure?"
Phil: "Orders from POTUS. All legal."
Ted: "Okay, let's get to work."

Yeah, it's as much fantasy as that bull**** "ticking time bomb"
scenario that never happened.
But you've probably heard of the study they did back in the '50's
where they pulled Joe Blows off the street - in NYC I think.
Paid them a few bucks to engage in a study where they twisted a knob
to apply electric current to "volunteers." Some ungodly percentage of
the volunteers were willing to **** up the "volunteers" by dialing up
the juice. Because it was done under the auspices of "authority."
I don't trust the "authorities." I don't trust Joe Blow who is given
torture rights by the "authorities."
I trust the rule of law, ground slow and fine.
I'm a Conservative. Old style.
Got nothing to do with sympathy for raghead terrorists.
Got nothing to do with what political party is in power.
It's about the United States Constitution and the rule of law.
Without that, we're no better than terrorists.

--Vic