Flashback: Dems Give Mukasey a Waterboarding Primer

[ProSense]

Dems Give Mukasey a Waterboarding Primer

By Spencer Ackerman - October 23, 2007

In response to Michael Mukasey's professed ignorance as to what waterboarding is, all eight Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have sent Mukasey a detailed primer on the centuries-old torture technique. It includes some surprising historical details: did you know, for instance, that during the occupation of Japan, the U.S. prosecuted Japanese soldiers who waterboarded U.S. POWs?

You can read the letter here. But we thought we should do our part to educate Mukasey as well. So here's a waterboarding reenactment, courtesy of Keith Olbermann:

<...>

The Senators write, "Please respond to the following question: Is the use of waterboarding, or inducing the misperception of drowning, as an interrogation technique illegal under U.S. law, including treaty obligations?" During the hearing, Mukasey would only reply: "If it amounts to torture, then it is not Constitutional."

Waterboarding is torture

[Starry Messenger]

1. Yes. It is torture.

Also Chris Hitchens:

Believe Me, It's Torture

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/video/2008/hitchens_video200808

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/08/hitchens200808

[ProSense]

2. Yeah, and a point being missed, torture

is not a trial. Some people seem to believe punishment needs to be applied before due process: suspects should be tortured. (What is it about torture is illegal that some people can't grasp?)

There is no doubt the Bush war criminals tortured innocent men, should we proceed to punishing Bush officials without a trial?





Edited for clarity.

[Starry Messenger]

3. No, I want trials.

I guess I missed something. I rec'd the thread, anyway. Here's another kick.

[ProSense]

4. Sorry, just making a general comment.

Thanks for the kick.


:hi:

[Starry Messenger]

5. Oh phew!

:hi: It's been weird day.

[Supersedeas]

6. and did the Fed Judge delay the release of the OPR report--parting attempt at partisanship

from the Bush Justice Dept.