Conservative radio host Erich “Mancow” Muller has been one of the loudest voices denying that waterboading is torture. Like Sean Hannity (who said that he would allow himself to be waterboarded), Muller volunteered for a session to prove the point. Unlike Hannity, Muller fulfilled his commitment. As shown on the video below, in a few seconds, Muller went through the full range of Kübler-Ross of torture from denial to acceptance.
Mancow quickly learning what various courts have found for many decades: waterboarding is torture:
“It is way worse than I thought it would be, and that’s no joke. It is such an odd feeling to have water poured down your nose with your head back… It was instantaneous… and I don’t want to say this: absolutely torture. I wanted to prove it wasn’t torture. They cut off our heads, we put water on their face… I got voted to do this but I really thought ‘I’m going to laugh this off.'”
For the video, click here.
For the story, click here
Christopher Hitchens gets waterboarded.
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/08/hitchens200808
Michelle,
The 1 in 7 number is itself a matter of some dispute as it is, I believe, the 44th different number released (or leaked) as to detainees “returning to the battlefield” (not a well-defined concept in this case – I believe that Rachel Madow reported that one person “returned to the battlefield” by appearing in a documentary). Regardless, your point about this number being low (recidivism rates among US criminals are far higher (above 50%)) is well taken and your ensuing conclusion is inescapable. This sort of logical analysis seems to have been lost in the media world of flashy headlines and soundbites, a sad commentary on our culture.