Water boarding vs torture

[JackShephard]

Is there a difference? Is water boarding just a fancy word to keep the general population happy? Is it right in your mind to do something like this for answers?

And just so I know, what is supposed to make the difference between the two?
Where is the line?

Personally, I couldn't form an opinion because I don't exactly know where the line is.

[Sugaree]

Water boarding is torture. It causes physical harm for the purpose of getting information/to punish. Therefore, it's torture.

[Korashk]

Waterboarding is a form of torture. There is no difference. Your thread title is akin to asking "Would you like a drink or a glass of water?"

[JackShephard]

Water boarding is torture. It causes physical harm for the purpose of getting information/to punish. Therefore, it's torture.

I keep hearing (from conservatives especially) that there is supposed to be a difference. But I'm not so sure.

[Korashk]

Be sure, there is no difference.

[Sonic Boom]

Water boarding is torture. It causes physical harm for the purpose of getting information/to punish. Therefore, it's torture.

.....not to mention long-term psychological damage as well.

[MisterSix]

It doesn't really matter. All the good prisoners get sent to Egypt for the full torture experience

[Mortal Coil]

I keep hearing (from conservatives especially) that there is supposed to be a difference. But I'm not so sure.

That may be because water boarding, while a form of torture, is unique in that instead of directly inflicting pain upon someone (like pulling out their fingernails, for example) it stimulates panic because the person is being asphyxiated. It still causes physical and psychological suffering though.
Water boarding (if I may give my opinion) is positively genius (though totally evil) because it turns a person's own mind against them.

[Smeagol]

I disagree with the use of torture, but waterboarding isn't considered a torture (although I think it is torture) because it doesn't physically harm the person, because they believe that they are being asphyxiated but they aren't.

[Korashk]

I disagree with the use of torture, but waterboarding isn't considered a torture (although I think it is torture) because it doesn't physically harm the person, because they believe that they are being asphyxiated but they aren't.
It doesn't have to be physical to be torture.

[LuckyEddy]

I think it leads to unreliable intel if someone doesn't know something and tells lies just to stop the water boarding and that some people won't talk no matter how hard you hit them or how much you torture them (or make them think their tortured).

[Skyhawk]

Well, after reading some of the Wikipedia article on it I think it's torture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterboarding

[Bath]

I disagree with the use of torture, but waterboarding isn't considered a torture (although I think it is torture) because it doesn't physically harm the person, because they believe that they are being asphyxiated but they aren't.

It does have physical effects. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterboarding#Mental_and_physical_effects)

Water-boarding or mock drowning, where a prisoner is bound to an inclined board and water is poured over their face, inducing a terrifying fear of drowning clearly can result in immediate and long-term health consequences. As the prisoner gags and chokes, the terror of imminent death is pervasive, with all of the physiologic and psychological responses expected, including an intense stress response, manifested by tachycardia (rapid heart beat) and gasping for breath. There is a real risk of death from actually drowning or suffering a heart attack or damage to the lungs from inhalation of water. Long term effects include panic attacks, depression and PTSD. I remind you of the patient I described earlier who would panic and gasp for breath whenever it rained even years after his abuse.

[FullyAlive]

I got really interested in this after an episode of spooks, whilst just once would probably be assault more than torture but the repeated use of this on a person I'd definitely class it as torture.

[NotYourSombrero]

I do believe water boarding is a form of torture. Though if necessary to retrieve information that could aid in saving someones life, not wrong.

[Korashk]

I do believe water boarding is a form of torture. Though if necessary to retrieve information that could aid in saving someones life, not wrong.
Do you have a single example of this?

[Aves]

It's been stated, I'll say it again. It's definitely a form of torture. A brilliant one at that. It incorporates both body and mind to harm the victim.

[Jean Poutine]

Do you have a single example of this?

The ticking time bomb scenario?

Not saying I agree with it. Any person, even a scumbag like a terrorist has rights and they deserve to be protected, if we don't want our own rights in the future to be infringed. But that's an example where some legal scholars like Dershowitz have actually made a pretty strong case in some people's eyes for "regulated torture".

[Wayne92]

I can tell you from first hand experience that Water boarding is a form of torture that is extremely traumatizing. It works by making the victim incapable of breathing and makes the body think its drowning and go into a state of panic. The torturer can control this response as easy as flipping a light switch on and off(not going to tell you how on this topic) and is usually continued until a desired result has been met.( information, physical response, etc.) It is a very damaging experience which is why it has received a lot of flak in its use on POWs.

Like I said, I know first hand. Don't feel like telling my business on here, if you want to know then ask.

[Magus]

Khalid Sheikh Mohammad called us, and said that he was constantly water-boarded.

[Korashk]

The ticking time bomb scenario?

Not saying I agree with it. Any person, even a scumbag like a terrorist has rights and they deserve to be protected, if we don't want our own rights in the future to be infringed. But that's an example where some legal scholars like Dershowitz have actually made a pretty strong case in some people's eyes for "regulated torture".
I was asking for a real life example of torturing a prisoner leading to saving lives, hypothetical situations simply can't be used to accurately judge actions that involve the amount of psychology found in the act of torture.

[MisterSix]

I was asking for a real life example of torturing a prisoner leading to saving lives, hypothetical situations simply can't be used to accurately judge actions that involve the amount of psychology found in the act of torture.

I don't think thats very fair. It would have to be a very stupid government to declassify specific things about torture cases.