Believe Me, It's Torture

Questions

1.      Is waterboarding a sufficient way to receive the truth?

2.      Should waterboarding be banished in the United States?

3.      Is waterboarding “less cruel” than other punishments such as the pincer or electrodes?

Response

            In Christopher Hitchen’s article, “Believe Me, It’s Torture”, he describes an experience that most of us will never endure and never want to endure; waterboarding. After reading this article and what he went through, I could not believe that this actually happens to people. He explained the pain and the mental effects waterboarding had on him. It feels like you are drowning, because you pretty much are drowning. Special Forces use waterboarding as a form of punishment to get information out of an enemy. As Hitchens addressed, this really does not work. The enemy is in a state of shock and pain and may not give true information. Even if it did work, no person should be punished with waterboarding to get them to give Special Forces information. That is just cruel and pure torture. It not only causes physical damage, it causes severe neurological and psychological damage. Just because you are not physically hurting them, like electrodes or other forms do, does not mean it is not considered a form of torture. It is torture. As a form of training, it should be allowed but a way of receiving information; no way.  I strongly believe that waterboarding should be banished in the United States because of the damage it does to its victims.

            I am sure that everyone has experienced one time in their life where they felt they lost control in the pool or the ocean, and thought they were almost going to drowned. I know I have. I never want to experience that feeling again and I do not believe that anyone else should be forced to have a wet towel over their face suffocate, that is wrong and it is torture.