Water Boarding Must Be the Polite Term

Wait a minute. I thought water boarding was wave riding in the prone position, on one of those stubby styrofoam surf boards; but it aint:

The prisoner is bound to an inclined board, feet raised and head slightly below the feet. Cellophane is wrapped over the prisoner’s face and water is poured over him. Unavoidably, the gag reflex kicks in and a terrifying fear of drowning leads to almost instant pleas to bring the treatment to a halt.

According to the sources, CIA officers who subjected themselves to the water boarding technique lasted an average of 14 seconds before caving in. They said al Qaeda’s toughest prisoner, Khalid Sheik Mohammed, won the admiration of interrogators when he was able to last between two and two-and-a-half minutes before begging to confess. [ABC News: CIA’s Harsh Interrogation Techniques Described]

Fuck! That’s just wrong.