Hasn't waterboarding been defined as torture by some international

[Poiuyt]

group or treaty?

I just saw some guest on Rita Cosby say that waterboarding is definitely not torture, to which Rita replied, "Well, thank you for clearing that up." I didn't catch who her guest was, but he sounded like someone from the administration. He was saying that waterboarding is just a trick, he made it seem like a prank.

[Lex]

1. Amnesty International.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=75138

Amnesty International Response to Cheney's 'No-Brainer' Comment

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Larry Cox, Amnesty International USA's Executive Director, issued the following statement in response to Vice President Cheney's comments on water-boarding:

"What's really a no-brainer is that no U.S. official, much less a Vice President, should champion torture. Vice President Cheney's advocacy of water-boarding sets a new human rights low at a time when human rights is already scraping the bottom of the Bush administration barrel.

The U.S. Department of Defense specifically prohibited water- boarding in its newly issued Army Field Manual. U.S. Senators have stated clearly that water-boarding is unacceptable.

This administration aims at a radical break with our country's proud human rights tradition. The America we believe in does not torture people."

[BOSSHOG]

2. I think bush and his supporters

should prove to us that it is not torture. Surely limbaugh or hannity will volunteer to be waterboarded to prove that its just a wonderful christian activity.

[Lexingtonian]

3. US federal court cases define waterboarding as torture

A pilot from one of the Doolittle Raid bombers was captured by the Japanese and waterboarded. The Japanese officer who performed the 'interrogation' was prosecuted and convicted of a war crime (torture of prisoners of war) after the Japanese surrender because the federal court concluded waterboarding was torture.

United States v Sawada, 1946 or 1947.

[leftchick]

6. thank you

I thought everyone knew that. Damn! It feels like you are drowning folks!!!!! And I am sure in some cases people have drowned.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. The United Nations Committe Against Torture

The State party should rescind any interrogation technique, including methods
involving sexual humiliation, “waterboarding”, “short shackling” and using dogs to
induce fear, that constitutes torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment, in all places of detention under its de facto effective control, in order to
comply with its obligations under the Convention.

Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee against Torture:UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

[havocmom]

5. People from other nations tried & executed for waterboarding

http://www.gatago.com/alt/atheism/31522201.html

The man who authorized those techniques at the Singapore YMCA, Lt.
Col. Sumida, was sentenced to HANG. Sumida, in his statement during
the trial said, "I felt the state of peace and order and this serious
incident were related and that a thorough measure should be taken to
prevent the recurrence of such serious incidents."

Six other members of the kempeitai plus an interpreter were SENTENCED
to HANG. Three were SENTENCED to LIFE, including one interpreter
called "the fat American" (he was originally from California) One
received 15 years, and one kempeitai and one interpreter eight.

Now that bush/cheney junta says it's OK, guess our troops are just SOL if they get captured. Not acceptable!

[Richard Steele]

7. It's defined as torture by everyone who's ever seen it.

Because it IS.