[quote=CONCHO]Take a close look at waterboarding and you tell me if you think that is torture or not.
“Waterboarding” sounds like an extreme sport. Let’s just call it “drowning” which is what it is. As for whether it’s torture or not, I’ll take Christopher Hitchens’ word for it.[/quote]
CONCHO: Anyone that’s been through SERE School or E&E (Escape and Evade) can tell you all about waterboarding. I’d definitely consider it torture, but many don’t (especially those that have never had it done to them).
My point is, where do you draw the line? I know what I consider torture and I saw all manner of horrible things done to others and nearly all of it with the tacit approval of the US government. This was well before 9/11 and Gitmo and well after Vietnam.
The government will do whatever it deems necessary and, more importantly, whatever it can get away with, in pursuit of it’s goals (which aren’t always OUR goals).