Waterboarding and Torture
I’ve heard a lot about the so-called “torture-lite”, and conservatives telling me that it isn’t torture unless you’re ripping out people’s fingernails, and so forth.
And then, I found this very interesting description. This is from the trial, after World War II, of a Japanese interrogator.
Q: What other physical treatment was administered to you at that time?
A: Well, I was given what they call the water cure.
Q: Explain to the Commission what that was.
A: Well, I was put on my back on the floor with my arms and legs stretched out, one guard holding each limb. The towel was wrapped around my face and put across my face and water was poured on. They poured water on this towel until I was almost unconscious from strangulation, then they would let me up until I’d get my breath, then they’d start over again.
Q: When you regained consciousness would they keep asking you questions?
A: Yes sir they did.
Q: How long did this treatment continue?
A: About twenty minutes.
Q: What was your sensation when they were pouring water on the towel, what did you physically feel?
A: Well, I felt more or less like I was drowning, just gasping between life and death.”
And the CIA’s practice?
“The prisoner is bound to an inclined board, feet raised and head slightly below the feet. Cellophane is wrapped over the prisoner’s face and water is poured over him. Unavoidably, the gag reflex kicks in and a terrifying fear of drowning leads to almost instant pleas to bring the treatment to a halt.”
Is that torture? Back at the trial of the Japanese interrogator, they dismissed charges (what charges?) against the serviceman giving testimony because:
The untrustworthiness of any admissions or confessions made under torture would clearly vitiate a conviction based thereon.
