Waterboarding

[tessa]

But my sources are American (there's virtually nothing online from British sources). But I would look at them all, not just one side's version, if I could.

Quite an astute perspective to have. Also rare. One might say almost an impossible one to have.

There were 2 wars? Oh yes. That other one. It was a stalemate (and of even less interest to Britons than the Rebellion: Bonaparte was much more of a problem). Neither side lost anything or won anything - except we developed Bermuda and organised a great fireworks display in Washington.

This made me laugh a little. Thanks for that.

We certainly laid the foundations for all the problems that exist in the Middle East now.

"...all the problems" ...wow. Hmm...kind of taking far too much credit here, I'm thinking. Play a part in creating the structural outlay, sure, but to state it as an all-encompassing idea works against your "all sides" philosophy.

the use of water boarding was probably presented by the cia too the military and for reasons of cost and expediency

Respectfully, I have to say "not so". I believe it's used because there are some extremely malignant minds out there in this world of ours who are in the position to infect others with their thinking. It has been and will continue to be. That is why when it comes to whatever form of torture we choose as topic, as Alex said, it will never be outlawed.

Torture exists because there are people who are not only willing to think it up and inflict it, but feel an inner need to do so. They can provide whatever "justifications" they deem suitable, but it's the same as Bush arguing that he can "be victorious" in war- none of the reasoning makes any sense. Really, it boils down to the fact that the tormentor wants to torture. It just isn't possible to outlaw innate bloodlust and because there will always be people who desire to act in barbarous ways, no government anywhere will ever be able to provide legislation to rid us of that evil.

i wish i knew what to do to prevent it all

We should all probably spend more time pondering just that.