[emersonbiggins]

Woo-hoo! This country is better off for adopting torture techniques straight from the Dark Ages. I've never felt more safe, let me tell ya... Of course the media is out to lunch on reporting this story as a heinous embarrassment and criminal indictment of America's supposed "moral superiority." Oh well.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')NEW YORK (CNN) -- A former CIA agent who participated in interrogations of terror suspects said Tuesday that the controversial interrogation technique of "waterboarding" has saved lives, but he considers the method torture and now opposes its use. Ex-CIA agent John Kiriakou says he underwent waterboarding in training and cracked in a few seconds.

Former CIA operative John Kiriakou also told CNN's "American Morning" that he disagrees with a decision to destroy videotapes of certain interrogations, namely of al Qaeda's Abu Zubayda. Kiriakou made the remarks as two congressional committees prepared to grill CIA Director Michael Hayden on the destruction of the tapes and on "alternative" means of interrogation.

Waterboarding begins by placing a suspect on a table with the suspect's feet slightly elevated, said Kiriakou, who was waterboarded several years ago as part of his CIA training. He said he elected not to learn how to perform the technique, which is designed to emulate the sensation of drowning.

Once a suspect is secured on the table, interrogators wrap his or her face in a cellophane-like material, Kiriakou said. "There is a bladder, or a water source, above the head with water pouring down on the mouth, so no water is going into your mouth, but it induces a gag reflex and makes you feel like you're choking," Kiriakou said. ...

[heroineworshipper]

For when rate cuts, bailouts, & printing money just aren't enough to sell the houses. CEO's to workers: "The waterboarding will continue until you pay off my home equity line of credit."

[evilgenius]

It's about time that the conversation came round to the gullibility of those that raised alert levels solely based upon the words of those that said anything they could to avoid more torture. Torture does not work. What it does do is increase your vulnerability when you employ imbeciles to run your intelligence agencies because only imbeciles could be yes men under the set rules of engagement.

[Clouseau2]

The White House semi-denials about torture/waterboarding seem to almost be lifted out of an Abbott and Costello routine or SNL:

Q Did the questioning of al Qaeda leader Abu Zubaydah conform with the interrogation program approved by President Bush? [...]

MS. PERINO: I will say that all interrogations -- all interrogations have been done within the legal framework that was set out after September 11th...All of the -- the entire program has been legal.

Q Are you saying that whatever was done in this case was not torture?

MS. PERINO: I am saying that the United States does not torture. The President has been -- [...]

Q But when you have a former CIA officer, John Kiriakou, now saying that waterboarding was used -- since you're saying the interrogations were legal; he's saying on the record now, waterboarding was used in at least one case. You're saying waterboarding is legal?

MS. PERINO: Ed, I'm saying I'm not commenting on any specific technique. I'm not commenting on that gentleman's characteristics of any possible technique. I've given you a very general statement about interrogations being legal, limited and --

Q You just said it was legal.

MS. PERINO: I'm sorry?

Q You said it was within the legal framework.

MS. PERINO: Yes.

Q Everything that was done.

MS. PERINO: Yes.

Q So waterboarding is legal.

MS. PERINO: I'm not commenting on any specific techniques.

[Heineken]

I bet much more than waterboarding is going on in that gulag of secret CIA prisons.

[underdressed]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'I') bet much more than waterboarding is going on in that gulag of secret CIA prisons.

[Heineken]

It's definitely a slippery slope, underdressed. Slippery with blood, vomit, feces, and urine. If waterboarding doesn't "work" on a given inmate, it's easy to see them going the next step---say, pulling fingernails. I am absolutely certain, at an intuitive level, that this is already happening.

We should be thinking, too, about what torturing "their people" means for "our people" who get captured. This is a very important military principle that seems to have been almost totally overlooked. It's just incredible to me that torture (and all the euphemisms served up in its place) has actually become an instrument of US policy and a subject of public debate. Never thought I'd see such a tragic day except in fiction.

Orwell lives.

[mekrob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')e should be thinking, too, about what torturing "their people" means for "our people" who get captured. This is a very important military principle that seems to have been almost totally overlooked.

[Fishman]

Just a little perspective: Hayden said Congress was notified in 2003 both of the tapes' existence and the agency's intent to destroy them.
Several in the Congress (including Democrats) knew this was going on, little complaints. Interesting, we discuss pouring water on someones face, Al Quida blows up UN folks in Algeria.
Mekrob, where's that Koran verse about lopping innocent folks heads off?

[Fishman]

I bet much more than waterboarding is going on in that gulag of secret CIA prisons.

Heiniken, are you in the fallout zone from DC? That waterboarding+ might be keeping you alive. Even old whoremonging Bill Clinton told Bush his greatest threat would be Al Quida with a concern about nukes in the US.

[mekrob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'M')ekrob, where's that Koran verse about lopping innocent folks heads off?

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mekrob', 'T')here was never any religious motivation on the part of the kidnappers for their actions

[emersonbiggins]

53% of CNN visitors approve of waterboarding.




This certainly paves the way for allowing it to be used as liberally as a taser by your local police force.

...and perhaps simultaneously?

taser+waterboarding = sekure amerika

[mekrob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mekrob', 'T')here was never any religious motivation on the part of the kidnappers for their actions

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Fishman', 'H')einiken, are you in the fallout zone from DC? That waterboarding+ might be keeping you alive. Even old whoremonging Bill Clinton told Bush his greatest threat would be Al Quida with a concern about nukes in the US.

[Plantagenet]

Waterboarding not only works...it works fast.

The press is reporting that it took only 35 seconds for the main 9/11 plotter to "break" when the CIA interogated him using waterboarding.

[Dry]

If the information that they get from 1 terrorist stops 1 homicide bombing it is worth it. Sliperly slope blah blah.

[octopus]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Dry', 'I')f the information that they get from 1 terrorist stops 1 homicide bombing it is worth it. Sliperly slope blah blah.

[emersonbiggins]

Retired FBI agent says waterboarding produced "crap" information from detainee

Maybe waterboarding doesn't work? My world is turned upside down.

[cube]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'I') bet much more than waterboarding is going on in that gulag of secret CIA prisons.