Are any of you guys reading the torture memos?

[NightWatcher]

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/20090416_memos.pdf

Sounds like they KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING WAS ILLEGAL. (see the justifications starting on page 3 Section III) trying to split hairs about "pain and suffering" from "discomfort". the okayed "facial slap" isnt done for "pain" but for "humiliation".

By attempting to justify and/or excuse their behaviors, they know that they are wrong.

What other sick stuff are yall seeing

On Edit

From Page 11

As we understand it, when the w3lerboard is used, the subject's body responds as if the
subject were drowning-even though the subject may be well aware that he is in fact not
dro"'~ling. You have infonned us tilat this procedure does not inflict acrual physical haroL Thus,
although the subject may experience the fear or panic associated with the feeling of drowning,
the weterboard does not inflict pllysical pain. As we explained in the Section 2340A
Memorandum, "pain and suffering" as used in Section 2340 is best understood as a single
concept, not distinct concepts of "pain" as distinguished from "suffering." See Section 2340A
Memorandum at 6 nJ. The waterboard, which inflicts no pain Or actual harm whatsoever, does
not, in OUr view inflict "severe pain or suffering." Even if one were to parse the statute more
finely to attempt to treat "suffering" as a distinct concepl, the waterboard could not be said to
imlict severe suffering. The waterboard is simply a controlled acute episode, lacking the
connotation of a protracted period oftime generally given to suffering.

[valerief]

1. I tried. They're so gross. nt

[Solly Mack]

2. Yes and Yes, they did know and Yes...a whole lot of splitting hairs

I'm on my second read now....because I'm comparing the time-line with events now

[Spazito]

3. I have been reading them, in between bouts of nauseausness...

there is no doubt they knew they were torturing and in breach of both US law and the Geneva Conventions and all the weasel wording they used to justify are simply that, disgusting weasel wording.

[tekisui]

4. Such a disgusting read.

About waterboarding, they claim sensation of drowning ceases immediately when the rag is removed. BULLSHIT! It is control drowning, the rag was removed when the subject entered the 'Death spiral" and could no longer experience fear, because the were dying.

[NightWatcher]

8. but they'd give them 3-4 regular breaths before doing it again

that there is even a debate about this is BS. People should be in jail for this.

[seemslikeadream]

5. I can not believe anyone thinks these war criminals should get a pass

especially here at DU

[FiveGoodMen]

7. ...or in the White House

[panader0]

6. So easy to tell if waterboarding is torture

Let them try once.