What You Already Knew: We Torture

A favorite George W. Bush talking-point in our post 9/11 world, is that, "The United States does not torture."

But yesterday, CIA director Michael Hayden publicly admitted that the United States of America has used the enhanced interrogation technique known as "waterboarding" on at least three different prisoners.

A week and a half ago, former Homeland Security Department head Tom Ridge was unequivocal when he described the practice that was first developed in the 1500's during the Italian Inquisition :

"There's just no doubt in my mind--under any set of rules--waterboarding is torture."

Of course, no everyone agrees with Ridge. Our Attorney General, for instance, who knows well the legal implications for the country if we officially define waterbaording as torture.


U.S. intelligence chief Mike McConnell has perhaps the most laughable take on waterboarding, telling The New Yorker magazine,

"Whether it's torture by anybody else's definition, for me it would be torture."

Ditto spending the holidays with the in-laws. Now that's torture!

Dick Cheney is on record as saying that using waterboarding is a "no-brainer."

Considered a punishable offense in World War II and Viet Nam, waterboarding has never really gone away since its inception. It has also become an issue in the presidential race.

John McCain wants to ban it.
MIke Huckabee also wants it outlawed.
MItt Romney sides with Cheney, seeing it as a necessary tool.

Barack Obama thinks it should be banned.
Hillary Clinton categorically opposes torture, but doesn't specifically rule out waterboarding.