I’ve been a little curious as to what waterboarding actually is, and what it entails. Here’s a video from Current TV’s Kaj Larsen, where he allows himself to be subjected to waterboarding:

I agree with what a lot of the interviewees said, that torture needs to be defined and, most importantly, a system of accountability needs to be established. I especially liked the idea of a “torture warrant” that the president must sign.Watching it made me a bit squeamish, but I don’t know if it’s really torture. Doing that to a strong suspect to get information can’t be absolutely condemned. Doing that to all prisoners on the off chance they have something to confess would certainly be condemnable (not that anyone’s currently using it in that way as far as I know). I am surprised that he lasted 24 minutes, although he wasn’t coughing or anything like he was breathing in water, which I don’t understand. No water actually enters the lungs?

Okay, I’ve done a little reading, and very little water actually enters through the nose and mouth. Most of it spills over the face. It triggers the gag reflex and excites one’s fear of drowning. It’s “traditionally” done with cellophane over the head (the video used a rag instead), so there’s no chance of asphyxiation.

Also, waterboarding is not to be confused with “dunking,” which a lot of people (myself included) have been mistaking for waterboarding.

Food for thought,

TJ Coolidge