Friday, November 02, 2007

Frame du Jour

I'm thinking that the term "waterboarding" sounds far too benign, like a fun summer activity.



Henceforth, the preferred term is "Partial Drowning Interrogation."


Sunday Update: The Washington Post is catching on:

Sometimes, though, the questions we face about detainees and interrogation get more specific. One such set of questions relates to "waterboarding."
That term is used to describe several interrogation techniques. The victim may be immersed in water, have water forced into the nose and mouth, or have water poured onto material placed over the face so that the liquid is inhaled or swallowed. The media usually characterize the practice as "simulated drowning." That's incorrect. To be effective, waterboarding is usually real drowning that simulates death.

15 comments:

Jack K. said...

...well, the album cover probably worked better, but I have to confess this is more effective DFH bait...

spocko said...

TKK. This is good. Thank you, I was thinking along the same lines. I will start using it too.

P.S. Athenae will still be mine though.

Anonymous said...

I actually see a danger of smothering here............

Anonymous said...

To quibble, I prefer "progressive drowning interrogation". It's what I've been muttering since I read the Small Wars article. Nuthin' partial about it.

May they all burn in hell.

Anonymous said...

How about "Spanish Inquisition-style Hydro-Interrogation"?

Unknown said...

Brilliant.

Anonymous said...

"progressive drowning interrogation"

Progressive? Are. You. On. Crack?

Spiraling, Pummeling, Escalating, Amplified, Augmented, Simulated.

Whatever, but not progressive.

Thx.

Anonymous said...

A better phrase would be "controlled drowning"

geor3ge said...

"Freedom dunking."

karmic said...

That sounds more right!

Phila said...

Good point. Although I always thought "torture" had plenty of negative connotations....

Dirk Gently said...

why not just call it "water torture?" then, the senators can ask the a.g. nominee "is water torture torture?"

Anonymous said...

I just saw Spocko's props to this post at Hullabaloo. While I agree that the current term is too comfortable, IMO "partial drowning interrogation" is too long and lacks a good, sharp consonant hooks that is needed to be effective.


How about watergagging?

It's an accurate description. and while most everybody knows what gagging feels like, few if any people enjoy it.

You can hit the g's hard for effect in watergagging. And add "to DEATH" for effect.

: smintheus :: said...

"Enhanced drowning"

Anonymous said...

How different is this really, than the age-old torture technique of holding someone's head underwater in a bathtub or toilet or trough, then letting them up just before they gain consciousness, then back into the water again?

This is not new, or "enhanced", or in any way sophisticated. It's an old torture used by thugs and corrupt police forces forever.