You know that 'waterboarding' is not the only 'enhanced interrogation technique' they used...

[Blackhatjack]

If they are willing to 'waterboard' a suspect, what else are they willing to engage in to get the information they want?

Extraordinary Rendition?
Extreme cold?
Drugs?
Constant Loud Music --Sleep Deprivation?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. if no independent agency is monitoring what they are doing

then they will do any type of torture

[MADem]

2. They used the music stunt when they were going after Carapina

They even showed that shit on CNN, with the huge speakers blaring at Noriega.

[derby378]

3. Rendition is not a technique in itself...

It's merely a means of transporting a suspect to a place where other "techniques" can be applied to his frail and fragile body.

[magellan]

4. We have multiple accounts from former detainees

...who all report similar techniques used on them that are unquestionably torture.

The US tortures people, and it's more than waterboarding. We know this from the people who are ultimately released and allowed to return to their homes and tell all. And then there are the detainees that commit suicide or mysteriously turn up dead; who knows if they were innocent...who knows what they were subjected to.

[backscatter712]

5. Stress positions are really common, and something you can test for yourself.

Let me give you an exercise (ACHTUNG: Only try this if you're relatively healthy, don't have joint, muscle or bone problems, don't have heart or other problems which will kill you or hurt you.)

Face a wall, then squat so your thighs are parallel to the ground. Also make sure while you're squatting, your weight is on the balls of your feet. Put your hands behind you as if you were handcuffed. Hold this position as long as you can (time it with a stopwatch if you're hardcore enough) keeping in mind that real detainees would have a guard standing over them, who will knock them upside the head if they move out of this position.

Now, let's say you've been at this for say fifteen minutes (I personally don't even come close to lasting that long,) and your muscles are fatigued all to hell, you're in a lot of pain. Now that guard will "have mercy" on you and tell you that you're allowed to lean forward and rest your forehead against the wall, while remaining in the squat. That, by the way, is a trap - while it relieves the stress on your legs slightly, it's not enough, and eventually, the pressure on your forehead from leaning will become even more painful. See how long you can hold out.

Yes, stress positions, though considered one of the lesser cruelties inflicted in places like Gitmo and Abu Ghraib, are considered by many to be actual torture. Try out the stress position that I described above, for enough time, and you'll see why.

I know, what the hell am I still doing here? I'm close to a nervous breakdown because of the Bush Administration, I should be taking a break like I said I would...

[TahitiNut]

11. Stress positions were once a common part of military academy hazing.

We had "the green bench," the "blue bed," and several others. The "green bench" was a sitting position against the (green) wall with thighs parallel to the floor and lower leg perpendicular. Often, the hazee would be required to hold an M1 rifle horizontally in front of them with out-stretched arms. (There was no physical abuse threatened, just verbal abuse or hazing "chores.") Generally speaking, a young and fit cadet could handle that position for a maximum of around 15-20 minutes ... and have difficulty standing or walking immediately afterward. There some instances of 30 minutes (or more) reported - heroic if true.

The "blue bed" (named for the blue bed-cover) was a half-push-up position underneath the standard military bed which was not high enough to permit a full push-up position. The hazee was required to keep his back fully against the bottom of the bed. Occasionally, a bayonet was positioned vertically underneath him as "motivation." (The bayonets were quite dull - never sharpened.)

Hazing at the USCGA lasted all year and was particularly aggressive in the last weeks before Christmas leave - a period called "The Purge." At the time, I was told, the winner of the Army-Navy game stopped hazing the freshmen after the game for the rest of the year. (The cheering of freshmen standing in the stadium got a LOT louder when their side was winning.)

[Blackhatjack]

6. The list I made was not intended to be comprehensive and complete...

The point of the OP is that all the talk about 'waterboarding' is missing the bigger picture. It goes way beyond anything close to legal, and waterboarding is definitely not legal.

[God23]

7. I think "waterboarding" is only the catchy

media phrase. What is the name for the pics from Abu Gahraib with electrodes connected to a man on a soapbox?

[provis99]

9. well, the Abu Ghraib guy was being threatened with torture with electricity

They do in fact already have a name for this kind of electric shock torture. Vietnam soldiers called it the "Bell Telephone Hour" when they tortured Vietnamese prisoners, because it used a modified field phone. Isn't that a cute expression for threatening to shock someone's balls?

[God23]

10. It is so fucking sad that this country has lowered itself to that point. n/t

[Swamp Rat]

12. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[God23]

13. Thanks, and I love your graphic! n/t

[EFerrari]

8. That's why so much pressure is being brought to bear on the

APA because psychologists are the last professionals to sign on to this horror. Doctors of medicine and psychiatrists bailed. That leaves the psychologists who have CRAFTED THE TORTURE our government is perpetrating.

Hypocritical Oath: Psychologists and Torture
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Posted on Jun 5, 2007
By Amy Goodman

First, do no harm. This tenet of medicine applies equally to psychologists, yet they are increasingly implicated in abusive interrogations, dare we say torture, at U.S. military detention facilities like Guantanamo. While the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association both have passed resolutions prohibiting members from participating in interrogations, the American Psychological Association refuses to, despite the outrage of many of its members.

Now, with the declassification of a report by the Pentagon’s inspector general detailing psychologists’ role in military interrogations, the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services announced it will investigate.

Dr. Leonard Rubenstein, executive director of Physicians for Human Rights, says such an “investigation into the development of torture techniques by the United States” would be “very significant. ... It should get into ... the use of psychologists in the development of the techniques, what is happening now, and how this can be avoided in the future.”

Two years ago, after a leaked report from the International Committee of the Red Cross criticizing the role of health professionals in U.S. interrogations, the American Psychological Association formed its Presidential Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security (PENS). There were nine voting members. Six of them were connected to the military. At the time, the identities of the panelists were secret. The PENS panel endorsed the continued participation of psychologists in military interrogations.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20070605_a_hypocritical_oath_psychologists_and_torture/

[Neshanic]

14. I think those are for starters. More things go on than then we could possibly imagine is my guess.

[Disturbed]

16. There are thousands of ways to Torture.

I can guess that many methods are being used that have not been admitted to.

One common method comes to mind that was used by the Soviets. The drop method. A Prisoner is forced to stand under a shower & drops of water ping on the dead for over 20 hours. The Prisoner is not allowed to sit down or sleep. This may sound benign but it is Torture.

When most think of Torture they imagine beatings, pulling finger nails, electric shock, dental instruments poking into nerves. The list is long.

Another one from the Soviets: Binding a Prisoner in a canvas, wetting it then letting it dry. It brings about excruciating pain.

[wiggs]

15. Exactly. Nor is it the only issue of importance wrt Mukasey. But the MSM

and much of the opposition party allow the debate to become narrow and muddy so that the patterns of power and deception of the last 6 years can continue.