Russell's Blog

Now that it looks like the Pentagon is finally ready to use the Military Comissions Act, I think it's important that we all get something straight. Waterboarding is not "simulated drowning." It does not "mimic the sensation of drowning." It is actual drowning. Just as you can choke on a under-chewed wad of burger meat without actually choking death, you can drown for a couple of minutes without expiring. It is absolutely possible to kill someone in the process of waterboarding them.

So yeah. It's torture. And we did that to some guy as part of an investigation by the duely constituted authorities. America is in the torture business, and it's official. The only question now is what sort of paperwork has to be filed for torture-induced confessions to be admissible in the tribunals, which by the way, are entirely under the direction of the executive branch.

The only question is this: Can we be as good at show trials as the Soviet Union? It's a challange, but I have great faith that us dilligent, hardworking can-do Americans can put together the most justice-y show trial yet.