Let's start with what it is: I found this description in about 30 seconds with a simple Google search:

"Waterboarding is a controlled drowning that, in the American model, occurs under the watch of a doctor, a psychologist, an interrogator and a trained strap-in/strap-out team. It does not simulate drowning, as the lungs are actually filling with water. There is no way to simulate that. The victim is drowning. How much the victim is to drown depends on the desired result (in the form of answers to questions shouted into the victim’s face) and the obstinacy of the subject. A team doctor watches the quantity of water that is ingested and for the physiological signs which show when the drowning effect goes from painful psychological experience, to horrific suffocating punishment to the final death spiral.

Waterboarding is slow motion suffocation with enough time to contemplate the inevitability of black out and expiration –usually the person goes into hysterics on the board. For the uninitiated, it is horrifying to watch and if it goes wrong, it can lead straight to terminal hypoxia. When done right it is controlled death. Its lack of physical scarring allows the victim to recover and be threaten with its use again and again."

I would highly recommend reading the entire artical at the following link... http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2007/10/waterboarding-is-torture-perio/
The artical covers several points that must be considered before making a decision on wether you agree or dis-agree that waterboarding is torture.

I'm still thinking about what I read and will come back in a day or two to give my opinion; but thought I would open up this subject and get some idea of what others thought about it.

Wayne225

I don't think I could stomach reading the entire article. Your snippet is quite enough for me to say that yes, in my opinion, that is torture.

And furthermore, any "team" that could stand around and monitor such torture are sadists.

-nab

Keep in mind these are the same people that killed 3000 of our people on 9-11. Waterboarding...fair and just for people who deserve it. Never forget what happened on 9-11. The USA is getting soft, an softer and we will be run over. Grow a spine. Stand up for those who were killed on 9-11 and over seas.

notmelshowers

I gotta go with that "notmelguy" waterboarding is weak compared to what they have done to US and furthtermore what they would like to do to us. Quit being a bunch of weenies!!!

notmelshowers and MeAmerican.

Here is a typical definition of the word torture:

1. inflicting of pain: infliction of severe physical pain on somebody, e.g. as punishment or to persuade somebody to confess or recant something
2. methods of inflicting pain: the methods used to inflict physical pain on people
3. to cause somebody anguish: mental or physical anguish

Now with the above in mind let's go back to my first post and after reading it please answer the question, "Is Waterboarding torture?"

Neverabridesmaid

Actually that was the worst part of the artical. The reason I suggested that the artical should be read is that it brings up several questions about honor, morality and justice. So don't be afraid of reading it.

Wayne225

Any sort of torture is a knee-jerk reaction to a misdeed so horrible we feel the person responsible has to be punished in the worst possible way.

But like torture in all forms, how will you know if/when you get the answer you're looking for…the answer you want? If someone tortures another human being in some horrific way for a certain period of time, what will happen? Will that person suddenly shout out the truth? Will that person say anything just to make his torturer stop? Will he confess to what the torturers WANT him to confess to, whether or not it's the truth? And who are they torturing? Some real threat or just some guy they have a beef with…a scapegoat. You don't think scapegoats exist? Think again. That person being tortured may have done nothing but insult some authoritarian figure and is now being made to pay for it. The point is, mixed in with criminals are innocent people, and those people are being tortured, people who know nothing and can save no one from anything.

People who are hurt enough, hurt to the point of dying, will say anything, confess to anything. Then the torurers will be all smug and happy and powerful and feel like they did a good deed for the world when they actually did nothing. Nothing but hurt a human being who may - or may not - know anything or have done anything.

If anyone thinks that we can save the world by torturing people, you're living in a dream. Where we are now is at a place where Bush has taken us, a place that is at times so without morals and so blinded by fear that we will sink to things we never dreamed human beings could. And all so we can feel powerful.

-nab

Well , quit arguing about the water board cause it might as well be abandoned. Of course our ENEMIES know now it is only a threat, a medical doctor 'saves' you irregardless of what you did to our troops!! You people are so lame!

It's always refreshing to encounter intelligent discussion of a subject on a message board.

-nab

Nab...

Ok... I've read all of the above posts and have been thinking about the subject most of the day. I've reached a conclusion or two.

Waterboarding is torture. Plain and simple. There can be no denying that it causes extreme mental anguish as well as physical pain/discomfort. And that is torture.

Should we use it in selected instances? Sure we should. We are at war. Should we as a nation claim that we do not use torture? No we should not when we use things such as waterboarding. As a matter of fact I think we should proclaim the fact that we do so.

As much as I hate the thought that the US would use such means, I recognize the fact that the enemy we face does not have the same regard for the health and welfare of their prisoners as we do for ours. And since they do not respond to civil discussion of our differences we must respond in a manner they do understand and respect.

I would like to thank those that responded with their thoughts on the matter. Until next time...

Wayne225