Ted Rall for December 15, 2005
Transcript:
ABC News, November 18, 2005: CIA techniques water boarding, in which 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 terrifyin fear of drowning leads to almost instant pleas to bring the treatment to a halt. CIA sources aid 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. CIA officers also subjected themselves to water boarding. They lasted an average of 14 seconds. (Man: No wonder we're losing the war on terror!) (Woman: 14 seconds?!? Our guys are wimps!)