Poll Should all Conservatives and Republicans especially Sean Hanitty take the Water board Challenge?

The conditions for waterboarding should also be the same as those with which the 'terrorists' underwent...for a min of about 5 times per day for a min of one week with the other 'torture' methods like the sleep/sensory deprivation, with holding food and etc...combined...not just some simple dunk once 'teaser torture test'....

If they truly felt 'this wasn't torture' then they should gladly go through it....

@ dcstone,

I'm in complete agreement. I envision Hannity having some intern hold a damp cloth over his mouth and claiming that it's not so bad. Ship him down to Gitmo in order to ensure for proper "technique".

For that, I'd gladly donate to a charity of his choosing.

Military aircrews, specialized intelligence analysts, etc, attend training where interrogation techniques, sleep depreviation, physical strain/stress, and other forms of mental and physical abuse can be used to train personnel on the potential effects of failing into enemy hands. Unlike what the author suggests that this form should be used on only "republicans, conservatives, or anyone who sits at FOX News" it should be reminded that many of the so-called "era changing Democrats" didnt block the vote for such methods, Pelosi being right up there.

While I did not vote for Bush jr back in 2004, I still got sent to Iraq for the second time and didnt run off to Canada. The mentality of those who seek our (meaning the entire United States because a terrorist could give a damn if you are conservative republican or liberal democrat, they just want you dead) destruction is intense and is not going to shift because we have a new administration. So while all this talk about making Sean Hannity run around GitMo naked is funny, it won't stop a terrorist from seeking to kill you just because you are an American.

The amount of terrorist attacks that were foiled or prevented will never be known or even released to the general public regardless if we used water-board methods, loud heavy metal music 24/7, or threats with a firing squad. You are only getting 1% of all the information and the info is limited. Let's get past the "my side is better then yours" crap. Republicans ruined the situation and the democrats are not doing anything outstanding except attempting to make us all think that they had no idea about any of this, they are just now learning of these techniques....same old BS just different majority in the government now.

Yeah, I didn't vote for Obama, big deal, I have been down range a number of times and seen a lot of people who could care less who is in the oval office. If they could push the button on a small nuke and level a major US city they would and not shed a tear. A lot of bad people out there who were there long before Bush jr hit the election trail.

Anyone in special forces or other postions in the military go through SERE training and get subjected to waterboarding and a whole bunch of other techniques. Just like they gas our troops in boot to know whats its like and what to expect. Remind me the last time some has died over waterboarding.........

It is not the same. I sure if one of your friends water boarded you it would not be the same as if the Taliban did.

Keyword.. "IF THE TALIBAN DID". Not what the USA would do. The Taliban don't give a @!$%# about rules or law. They behead people on live TV for there cause in case you forgot. Tell me this oh righteous BAD1V. If water boarding one terrorist with 100 percent certainty saved your entire family... your wife.. and your kids.. would you do it? Or would you let them all die on principle for the life of one terrorist? If not.. your a hypocrite as if I ever saw one.

Its easy to stand on the moral high ground when your not personally affected. When you are.. I'd love to see you stick up for a terrorits rights over your families. If you did.. your one sick individual.

Simplistic Reality, apparently the USA does not give a @!$%# about rules or laws either since toture is illegal and we have sentenced foreign combatants for using the waterboarding on our troops.

@ lolollollo1233:

"Simplistic Reality, apparently the USA does not give a @!$%# about rules or laws either since toture is illegal and we have sentenced foreign combatants for using the waterboarding on our troops."

What foreign combatants have used "water-boarding" on US service personnel? The inusrgents, Taliban, AL Qadea backed network, do not water board. They will use torture and then behead and hack the body to pieces. Last time I checked that was not the case at GitMo. Even at Abu Gharib, no prisoner was beheaded or dismembered while still alive. Watch some insurgent videos and see if they adhere to a higher moral ground?

"War is cruelty, you can not re-define it." General Sherman.

World War II the Japansese did it and we exectuted them for doing it. Nice try, but try again.

I want Dick Cheney to be amongst the waterboarded.

It was not the only reason that they were executed. There were additional reasons and findings that members of the Japanese Imperial military were shot or hung, it was not just solely based on water boarding US Army Air Crews. Out of the captured aircrews from the Doolittle Raid, at least 7 were killed not by water boarding but by beheading and shot.

Are you trying to say that since you believe water boarding is a little totrure it is okay?

Where iny my recent comments did I say, "water board is okay and a little torture is okay?" Are you attempting to place words or comments into something that I did not say? It seems like a trend here. If you don't agree with Obama 100% then you must be on the complete opposite side, regardless how or what your input, first hand knowledge consist of. Did you do much time conducting interrogations in USAF Law Enforcement? Have you seen up close an insurgent, spoke with tribal leaders who support Al Qadea operations not based on Bush jr actions, GitMo, or Abu Gharib, but because they have all intention in killing anyone and everyone who does not believe their specific way? Have you conducted much counter insurgency work, counter intelligence work, been out there in the trouble spots say like Sadr City-Baghdad, Iraq, Fallujah, Tikrit, Taji, Al Sulmaniyah?

Give me a little credit then being some person who just watches FOX News and thinks, "we'll I guess that is the whole story, no need to learn anymore on the subject."

It was 4 years in the USAF and 25 years on the streets in Law Enforcement. As to you queston about insurgents is never. The reason I said a little torture is you keep minimizing water boarding.

Bad... I for one appreciate your service to our country, thank you.

What foreign combatants have used "water-boarding" on US service personnel?

Just ask McCain and all the POW in Vietnam. Ask the journalists that got there head sawed off on live TV by Al-Quaida... ask any of them. Somehow in my crazy mind I'd rather take waterboarding them my head chopped off on live TV like a turkey. Wouldn't you?

They are not the same. Water Boarding is to torture and Chopping your head off is Murder.

BAD1V:

My question about your service in Law Enforcement/Air Base Security was not to undermine your military service, all I was asking if you have ever been placed in that situation. Thank you for your military service and thank you for the 25 plus years of public law enforcement. I am not the enemy and I am not "down playing" what has been done or conducted overseas in a means to acquire credible and useful intelligence. But this whole thread is more one-sided then looking at all the answers or reasons or comments that do not agree with the one statement: Torture is bad and water board is bad so Republicans are bad.

The on-going use of say "water board" as the only reason Japanese military personnel were killed is incorrect. It may have been one of many factors or incidents but it was not the final reason that they were placed in front of a firing squad or hung.

The insurgents use torture in the forms that would make the pictures at Abu Ghraib look like a day care camp. Most captured persons are not killed out right. The insurgents are more likely to keep you alive for religious-political reasons and to get some air time on AL JAZERIA or AL ARAIBYA. They will usually be dismembered while still alive and death is the only form of relief. Beheading only several clips are usually conducted with a dull blade so the hacking take a pretty good amount of time and the victim must endure several seconds of god knows what level of pain before his head is removed. I have seen the victims as well as the videos, the insurgents are no fan of the articles, rules, regulations, or basic human rights when it comes to non-believers.

Thank you for your comments. I have never equated torture / Water Boarding with Republicans or Democrats. I don't care which party allowed it to happen it is wrong. I would be just as angry that we as a people had allowed it to happen now as when it happened. The United States can never lower it's self to the level of terrorist. We were are a Country of laws.

Bizarre but good point renard.

With the way liberals think.... spanking will be outlawed soon.

With the way the Far Right Wing thinks parking tickets will call for the Death Penalty. :-)

With the way liberals think.... spanking will be outlawed soon.

Do you have children or know what it is like to get hit constantly by a parent?

With the way liberals think.... spanking will be outlawed soon.

Eh, spanking probably should be outlawed, at certain levels. A sharp pat on the ass on occasion is one thing (but still not particularly effective, in my opinion -- I've never once seen a parent do that to a child when they're wailing about something with the subsequent effect of anything other than louder wailing) but pulling your childs pants down and inflicting severe pain and marks simply because you don't like that he didn't clean his or her room or because he sassed back at you is little more than parenting via fear and physical abuse.

And thus, a demonstration that you're not able to parent you children via other equally effective methods.

Do you have children or know what it is like to get hit constantly by a parent?

Yes and Yes (When I acted up).

That was the best post in this entire thread. Thank you.

Any time during warfare mistakes are made as well as crossing the line. FDR was a Democrat and President and he conducted acts that would be viewed now as only a "republican" idea. The forced relocation of Japanese Americans into several armed camps was a terrible act, but at the time FDR thought it was the right call. Let's avoid the constant use of "Republican party" BS. Both parties conduct themselves in a manner that could be improved. Review history and look at the situations during wartime that caused a US President to envoke or act in a manner not becoming his character.

Since I am sure most of the Far Right Wing has never read the Geneva Convention here is a link. Please note the section below in bold.

http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/91.htm

PART III

CAPTIVITY

SECTION I

BEGINNING OF CAPTIVITY

Article 17

Every prisoner of war, when questioned on the subject, is bound to give only his surname, first names and rank, date of birth, and army, regimental, personal or serial number, or failing this, equivalent information. If he wilfully infringes this rule, he may render himself liable to a restriction of the privileges accorded to his rank or status.

Each Party to a conflict is required to furnish the persons under its jurisdiction who are liable to become prisoners of war, with an identity card showing the owner's surname, first names, rank, army, regimental, personal or serial number or equivalent information, and date of birth. The identity card may, furthermore, bear the signature or the fingerprints, or both, of the owner, and may bear, as well, any other information the Party to the conflict may wish to add concerning persons belonging to its armed forces. As far as possible the card shall measure 6.5 x 10 cm. and shall be issued in duplicate. The identity card shall be shown by the prisoner of war upon demand, but may in no case be taken away from him.

No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatever. Prisoners of war who refuse to answer may not be threatened, insulted, or exposed to any unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any kind.

Prisoners of war who, owing to their physical or mental condition, are unable to state their identity, shall be handed over to the medical service. The identity of such prisoners shall be established by all possible means, subject to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

The questioning of prisoners of war shall be carried out in a language which they understand.

@ renard:

I like your assessment on my comment, although the use of "pathetic" had a hint of bias to it. I never said that we should allow things to happen because it occurred in the past. Don't attempt to place words in my mouth, all I said that during each military conflict mistakes, errors, and bad judgements were made. Whether right or wrong the approval was given and accepted by both Republicans as well as Democrats. Let's not attempt to use a brush stroke and place all blame on Republicans or anyone who will actually say out in public that he/she tends to vote Republican. Plenty of Democrats voted for action in Iraq, voted for action in Afghanistan, and voted for the use of GitMo.

You are right, if people are going to be held accountable, then let's do it. But both sides will be sending members to stand in front of the court to include Democrats.

BAD1V:

Also read the military's rules and regulations entitled "The Law of Land Warfare".

I did and guess what I found. Looks the same to me. See the section in bold.

http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~nstanton/Ch3.htm#s3

Section IV. BEGINNING OF CAPTIVITY

93. Questioning of Prisoners

Every prisoner of war, when questioned on the subject, is bound to give only his surname, first names and rank, date of birth, and army, regimental, personal or serial number, or failing this equivalent information. If he wilfully infringes this rule, he may render himself liable to a restriction of the privileges accorded to his rank or status.

Each Party to a conflict is required to furnish the persons under its jurisdiction who are liable to become prisoners of war, with an identity card showing the owner's surname, first names, rank, army, regimental, personal or serial number or equivalent information, and date of birth. The identity card may, furthermore, bear the signature or the fingerprints, or both, of the owner, and may bear, as well, any other information the Party to the conflict may wish to add concerning persons belonging to its armed forces. As far as possible the card shall measure 6.5 x 10 cm. and shall be issued in duplicate. The identity card shall be shown by the prisoner of war upon demand, but may in no case be taken away from him.

No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatever. Prisoners of war who refuse to answer may not be threatened, insulted, or exposed to unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any kind.

Prisoners of war who, owing to their physical or mental condition, are unable to state their identity, shall be handed over to the medical service. The identity of such prisoners shall be established by all possible means, subject to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

The questioning of prisoners of war shall be carried out in a language which they understand. (GPW, art. 17.)

Great, now where is it written on the treatment of armed civilian combatants? Both discussions on Prisoners of War, military members being captured by another country. The issue of terrorist could fall under the same manner of non-uniformed combatants in a war zone which goes into a different category as well as treatment. If you are going to place say a Taliban fighter in the same category as a foreign country's armed forces then there will be some differences, rules, regulations, and overall treatment.

Mac you cannot justify torture by any means.

RENARD:

We don't even allow torture of dogs but we have sanctioned the torture of Arabs and Muslims and what this proves is that we are or at least we were a sick society under the leadership of the Republican Party.

I would like to point out to you that you are stereotyping the Republican party. I am one of those members who is disparaged by the Bush Administration. It is going to take a great deal of time for the Republican party to accept the fact that Bush did act above the law in many circumstances. I have defended Bush in the past on many issues and have cursed him on others.

“Mr. President,” one aide in the meeting said. “There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution.”

“Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,” Bush screamed back. “It’s just a god-damned piece of paper!”

"Phillip Cooper is a leading expert on signing statements; in fact he wrote the book on the subject: By Order of the President: The Use and Abuse of Executive Direct Action. Two years ago Cooper wrote that George W. Bush had issued 23 signing statements in 2001; 34 in 2002, raising 168 constitutional objections; 27 statements in 2003, raising 142 constitutional challenges; and 23 statements in 2004, raising 175 constitutional criticisms. In total, during his first term Bush raised a remarkable 505 constitutional challenges to various provisions of legislation that became law." Stephen Pizzo
As a President who ran under the guise of a conservative, George W. Bush did not uphold the Constitution to the standard prescribed, therefore allowing the government to continue its front into it's destruction.

Cheney flat out said he was guilty. "If that's what they mean by saying I've changed, I'm guilty." To me, this is an admission and should be deal with much to same standard as lying under oath. No member of the government should be held to one standard when all others involved get away with corruptness.

Was the war in Iraq justified? Looking back on it I would have to say so considering polls at the start of the war were 66% in favor of removing Saddam. But how the war turned on the Americans in light of changing the search for Osama into the search for Saddam is where the line is drawn for me. Not only did we conquer the Government of Iraq, we began door to door assault on it's innocent people. Not just Republicans. Democrats as well. We as a group are responsible for this travesty.

Ron Paul stated it best... "In time it will become clear to everyone that support for the policies of preemtive war and interventionist nation-building will have much greater significance than the removal of Saddam Hussein itself."

Dave in Ma:

I am not attempting to "justify" torture, I am just saying that this constant barrage of comments directed at only "Republicans" is a little weak. Both sides gave the go-ahead for the methods used and it is stupid to think that only Republicans knew the details.

I don't care who knew, But the order came from the top and that's where we should start. I stand by my comment.

you cannot justify torture by any means.

The real leadership and advocacy for The Iraq war, Warrant less Wiretaps and Torture all came from the true leadership of our country after 2001 and that is and was the Republican Party and President George Bush with the active support of practically every member of the Republican Party in support of it.

How many other things that we don't know about? That's the question.

Both Democrats as well as Republicans sit on all the major military, intelligence, and counter intelligence sub-committes. To say that it was only the Republicans and the republicans alone making these foreign policy calls is incorrect.

Doesn't the ultimate responsibility rest with the decision makers?

I believe it does, and we should start there.

There is nothing on his website. I feel dirty, Im going to take a shower.

renard.

Agreed. This is why I left the Republican party when McCain was nominated. They became too liberal, too aggressive and had no respect for the conservatives left in GOP. If you want to hold me accountable for Voting for Bush in 2000 so be it. I will however hold you responsible for the housing crisis caused by the democrats in 2003 when Barney Frank adamantly opposed stricter regulation requested by the republicans on Freddie Mac. The housing bubble caused by the democrats and the solutions out of Washington to Bail them out.

If you want to be fair about it, I suggest you step out of the republicrat spotlight and view it from a 3rd party viewpoint. I will be voting out all incumbents as of 2010. This tossing the hot potato of blame and corruption back and forth between the parties is meaningless to me. The republicans are in bed with the democrats. 2 steps forward 2 steps back.