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[[Image:Waterboard.jpg|right|thumb|350px|A wall-painting found at a Vietnamese POW camp illustrating waterboarding being used against an American prisoner]]
'''Waterboarding''' is a controversial method of interrogation which simulates the sensation of drowning. Its use by American forces against terrorism suspects as controversial. Opponents of the practice call it "[[torture]]" and on this basis argue that it is illegal. Supporters of the practice acknowedge its coercive nature but say it is not torture and therefore not illegal.
'''Waterboarding''' is a controversial method of interrogation which simulates the sensation of drowning. Its use by American forces against terrorism suspects as controversial. Opponents of the practice call it "[[torture]]" and on this basis argue that it is illegal. Supporters of the practice acknowedge its coercive nature but say it is not torture and therefore not illegal.
The [[United Nations]] Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman
The [[United Nations]] Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment or Punishment classifies torture as "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity."<ref>http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/h_cat39.htm</ref>
or Degrading Treatment or Punishment classifies torture as "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity."<ref>http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/h_cat39.htm</ref>
The US Navy Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape School (SERE) in San Diego, California uses waterboarding against its students as a demonstration of how an "evil, totalitarian enemy would use torture at the slightest whim. If this is the case, then waterboarding is unquestionably being used as torture technique."<ref>[http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2007/10/waterboarding-is-torture-perio/ ''Waterboarding is Torture'']. Small Wars Journal. 7 May 2008.</ref> A waterboarding "bench" was discovered at the S-21 death camp ''Tuol Sleng'' in [[Phnom Pen]], which had been used to torture American [[POW]]s.
Opponents of the practice call it "[[torture]]" and want official definitions of [[torture]] changed so as to outlaw the technique.<ref>http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/04/06/usdom13130.htm</ref> One of the most notable critics of waterboarding is [[GOP]] presidential candidate [[John McCain]]. Senator McCain does not believe that the United States practices the technique in the [[War on Terror]], and he believes that it is highly inappropriate and unnecessary. <ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/01/politics/main3441067.shtml</ref>
Opponents of the practice call it "[[torture]]" and want official definitions of [[torture]] changed so as to outlaw the technique.<ref>http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/04/06/usdom13130.htm</ref> One of the most notable critics of waterboarding is [[GOP]] presidential candidate [[John McCain]]. Senator McCain does not believe that the United States practices the technique in the [[War on Terror]], and he believes that it is highly inappropriate and unnecessary. <ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/01/politics/main3441067.shtml</ref>
== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist|small}}
[[Category: Interrogation]]
[[Category: Interrogation]]
[[Category: War]]
[[Category: War]]
[[Category: Instruments and methods of torture]]
[[Category: Instruments and methods of torture]]