OUR torture is ok.
Some of us might be worried that the "alternative interrogation techniques" our government is using, which has been used to torture people in years past, might be...torture. Well our government has let us know that it's not torture, because our waterboarding was subject to "strict limitations".
And he argued that what the CIA did bears "no resemblance" to what torturers in time past have done. "There's been a lot of discussion in the public about historical uses of waterboarding," he said. But the "only thing in common is the use of water," he said.
The Spanish and Japanese use of "water torture," he said, "involved the forced consumption of a mass amount of water." Asked by a Republican whether Bradbury was aware of any "modern use" of waterboarding that involved the "lungs filling with water," Bradbury said no.
Well, I feel totally better now. Here I thought we were torturing people, but I guess when we do it, it's ok because it's not really torture! *Phew*.
...of course, there's no way we can verify this, since
the CIA destroyed the videotapes of interrogations. But I'm sure there was nothing imporant on those tapes anyway, otherwise they wouldn't have been destroyed.
Right?
As a side note, at least with the presedential race, no matter who wins (McCain, Clinton, Obama),
we'll definitely have an anti-torture president (although Clinton
previously supported it).
UPDATE: Ok nevermind, as
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
trygve pointed out, apparently McCain
vorted against a ban on waterboarding. Hrm. I want to see more details on this or at least hear McCain's side, I know voting on legislation can be packed with caveats and ulterior motives.
Speaking in October 2007, McCain said that waterboarding "is not a complicated procedure. It is torture." I'd be shocked (and lose all respect for him) if he pulled a hard 180 on such a serious issue.
update update:
In a statement, McCain said the measure goes too far in applying military standards to intelligence agencies and maintained that existing law already forbids waterboarding. "Staging a mock execution by including the misperception of drowining is a clear violation,'' he said." Hmm.
curious
angry
anxious