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They are also getting away with it because the torture isn't of the "strap electrodes to his genitals" variety, which most people would immediately reject. Stuf

by pyre 14y ago

They are also getting away with it because the torture isn't of the "strap electrodes to his genitals" variety, which most people would immediately reject. Stuff like "loud music," "putting a holy book in a toilet," or "make him think he's drowning," don't evoke the same sort of immediate reaction. If the administration were openly performing at "Inquisition" levels of torture, there would be massive public outcry.

lbarrow 14y ago
On the other hand they openly talked about extreme sleep deprivation (a few hours a week for months on end) and "walling", which is where you throw someone into a wall over and over.
thomasz 14y ago
I fail to see the difference between "waterboarding" and "strap electrodes to his genitals" torture.
- jlgreco 14y ago
  That is because you understand what waterboarding is. The general public, at least at the time, seemed to lack a proper appreciation for what it really meant.
  - ArtB 14y ago
    Waterboarding is torture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUkj9pjx3H0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUkj9pjx3H0
    - dllthomas 14y ago
      I think parent, grandparent, and possibly great-grandparent share that view. The point was that back when we were having these discussions this was a lot less obvious to a lot of people. Which, to a certain extent, the video you linked demonstrates - Mancow hardly would have volunteered to undergo it if he didn't underestimate its awfulness (and he said it changed his views on the subject).
jackpirate 14y ago
You have a lot more respect for the public than I do.
analog 14y ago
Actually the Spanish Inquisition used similar methods, including waterboarding [1]. Certainly some of the US prisoners have been tortured to death [2]. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition#Torture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition#Torture [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilawar_(torture_victim) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilawar_(torture_victim)
- jeltz 14y ago
  Interesting, so apparently the Spanish inquisition too started using waterboarding to avoid having to permanently harm their victims.
deleted 14y ago
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by pyre 14y ago

lbarrow 14y ago

On the other hand they openly talked about extreme sleep deprivation (a few hours a week for months on end) and "walling", which is where you throw someone into a wall over and over.

thomasz 14y ago

I fail to see the difference between "waterboarding" and "strap electrodes to his genitals" torture.

jlgreco 14y ago
That is because you understand what waterboarding is. The general public, at least at the time, seemed to lack a proper appreciation for what it really meant.
- ArtB 14y ago
  Waterboarding is torture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUkj9pjx3H0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUkj9pjx3H0
  - dllthomas 14y ago
    I think parent, grandparent, and possibly great-grandparent share that view. The point was that back when we were having these discussions this was a lot less obvious to a lot of people. Which, to a certain extent, the video you linked demonstrates - Mancow hardly would have volunteered to undergo it if he didn't underestimate its awfulness (and he said it changed his views on the subject).

jackpirate 14y ago

You have a lot more respect for the public than I do.

analog 14y ago

Actually the Spanish Inquisition used similar methods, including waterboarding [1]. Certainly some of the US prisoners have been tortured to death [2]. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition#Torture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition#Torture [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilawar_(torture_victim) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilawar_(torture_victim)

jeltz 14y ago
Interesting, so apparently the Spanish inquisition too started using waterboarding to avoid having to permanently harm their victims.

deleted 14y ago

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