I Was on the Waterboard

Self | 12/11/2007 | Mariner

[Mariner]

I am an honorably discharged US Military member that was subject to the Waterboard in SERE school circa 1979-1980.

I'm certain there are other ex military member that would like to join me in testifying to both the US Congress and the US Media that this procedure, while effective, is not torture.

If the majority of the American people knew that this was an act that US service members are subject to, it would disappear off the front pages of every newspaper and news show in the country.

Sign up. State you were waterboarded. Jim Robinson can collect our logins and provide our info to a brave Congress Person or member of the administration.

Let's send the dims and the media running and looking stupid while doing so.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

My husband is so funny. I just asked him a specific question, and he told me he couldn’t give me an answer or he’d have to kill me.

Most of what I’ve heard about SERE came from other pilots after they’d had quite a bit to drink.

What I want to know is why the media makes it sound as if waterboarding is something new; post nine eleven.

[Velveeta]

A bump and eternal gratitude for your service and the service of all our troops, past - present and future.

Now, give ‘em hell!

[jrooney]

"May I suggest that there is a qualitative difference between being subjected to waterboarding under controlled conditions where you are assured of the professional conduct of your fellow soldiers, and being subjected to waterboarding as a captured enemy combatant at the mercy of angry, determined interrogators?"

How would you know? The physical and psychological effects are probably the same. If you have never been waterboarded, you are only guessing and are not an authority on the matter.

[StarCMC]

Put me in front of Chris Matthews and Dingy Harry.

If you're close enough would ya smack 'em for me?

[sargunner]

During my SERE training I was not personally afforded the pleasure of the WB, but others did. There were plenty of other indignities that were available. A regular smorgasboard.

[shield]

Oh...people have heard that’s part of our troops training...its the donkeys trying to make something out of nothing...

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

My husband was one who experienced some of the other indignities.

[Hunble]

This is nothing new, and many people in our American military have been subjected to much worse while in training.

Most of us have "been there, done that."

[Dumb_Ox]

You sound like a real buffoon, Bunky.

True, but at least I'm not aping the Khmer Rouge.

[REDWOOD99]

Andrew Sullivan?

[Bender2]

RE: I am an honorably discharged US Military member that was subject to the Waterboard in SERE school circa 1979-1980.

I salute your service to our nation and all the others who served in American's armed forces. And I applaud you effort to get the truth out about waterboarding.

Of course, it would do a lot better if them Liberal Democrats and their MSM cohorts ever bothered with truth, facts or ethics.

However, I support you in this effort and offer my help in any way I can.

I was never in the service. Long story I will not bore you with.

The extent of my expertise here is my serving as temporary recorder on the Southwest Kerens Water Board the fall that Poop Early went off to take the cure.

[Dumb_Ox]

How would you know? The physical and psychological effects are probably the same. If you have never been waterboarded, you are only guessing and are not an authority on the matter.

By this standard, the only person who could speak to the matter would be someone who had gone through a simulated torture/interrogation session and a real one.

[Dumb_Ox]

Genetic fallacy?

[Stayfree]

As a southern california guy, I always thought water boarding was some type of surfing..

[Hunble]

Hmmm....

You have been a Freeper for a very long time, so I will grant you the respect that you deserve.

I will also assume that you were in Vietnam, and if so, then your views about this subject are being honest.

[jrooney]

Sounds like the poster of this thread did and you tried to dismiss him. If you want to draw people to your blog, post your thoughts at DU or Kos, they will agree with your terrorist sympathizing feelings.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Another idea—pretty far out—would be to get one of the networks to produce a realty show based on waterboarding where the contestant who holds out the longest wins. This would help sell the safety of waterboarding to television audiences. With the amount of publicity this issue has gotten lately we may hear about waterboarding being used for fraternity and athletic team initiations.

[Velveeta]

Which of the dozens of ‘ethically dubious’ terrorist attacks that were thwarted, would you feel comfortable to have seen come to fruition?

[budwiesest]

Unfortunately, I can’t. However, while trying to waterski the first time, the skipper’s motor wasn’t running properly and I went 50 feet or so just under the water at about 5 mi. per hour. Does that qualify?

[jwalsh07]

You wanna see torture? Come back 5 minutes late from a 24 hour pass for doing well on a PT Test in Basic and have Drill Sargent Thornton waiting for you. I can still smell the hurl covering my chest as I ran, and did pushups, and ran, and did squat thrusts, and ran, and did situps and ran, and ran, and ran........ Well, you get the picture.