Watch Christopher Hitchens Get Waterboarded (VANITY FAIR)

From http://www.vf.com. How does it feel to be "aggressively interrogated"? Christopher Hitchens found out for himself, submitting to a brutal waterboarding session in an effort to understand the human cost of America's use of harsh tactics at Guantánamo and elsewhere. VF.com has the footage. Related: "Believe Me, It's Torture," from the August 2008 issue, http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/08/hitchens200808

Interview conducted by David Rose and filmed by Arya Surowidjojo.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Christopher
• Hitchens
• Waterboarding
• Vanity
• Fair
• Guantanamo

[kellysparky1]

There are people that have almost drowned and now have a paralyzing fear of water. It is psychological, but that kind of abuse has long lasting effects on people. The reason we should not use "every available tool at our disposal"...it makes us no better than the terrorists. I thought that was the reason we went to war, to stop these kind of attrocities. Our leaders make our country look like a bunch of hippocrites by being in favor of these tactics. It sickens me to depths of my soul.

[FlekkefjordStation]

@kellysparky1 You went to war because the black people had the black water. Nothing to do with terrorism.

[MrMadmanbob]

While I am in general opposed to torture, I do think it can be essential in extreme cases of war or national security. I find it incredibly hypocritical when people 100% condemn this type of behavior but are otherwise ok with other harsh realities of war, particularly collateral damage. I mean, honestly...being tortured like this or even in more extreme ways has to be less damaging to a person than having his or her limbs torn off by an explosion and having to experience a life without limb(s)

[brunt3200]

I used to believe in these methods of torture (Non-physical) as I used to think that it was a suitable way to gather information, however I was ignorant then. I know water boarding has saved lives however it still disgraces to see our governments using these techniques. I can only wish for a time when we don't use these methods no more.

[20yearoldteenager]

@TRobinson1971 Did you watch the video? go and look up the actual confirmed cases of information being credibly gotten from water-boarding. you wont find any. finally go and look up any definition of torture and you will see that you definition is woefully inadequate. Torture can be done without emotion and without leaving marks. Sadly I think your logic is the same that many of Americans share. I'm a republican and I don't agree with Christopher Hitchens, and this is just plain wrong.

[TRobinson1971]

What should be pointed out is that only a few of the most hardened terrorist were ever waterboarded.  And it wasnt a matter of "if" they had information....they most definitely did have information and lives were saved as a result. This is a way to get information...nobody walks away missing a limb....their faces arent bloodied....they are faced with being uncomfortable until they talk....they talk it ends. Torture as we know it is a means of hate...inflicting excrutiating pain for thrills

[evilemperordude]

@rathindra984 I don't think he was ever in favor of torture. He just didn't think that waterboarding specifically was torture until he experienced it himself. And I don't think it's as obvious that it is from the point of view of an observer as you might think as there are plenty of other very "aggressive" interrogation techniques that nobody seems to have any problem with.

[chUbbYxChASeRx152]

Fuck you guys! I have gills!!!

[We3SmokeTree]

now imagine no code word or metal objects in your hand to stop the simulation

[warlord6272]

This really doesn't seem to bad, just difficult to breath.. But if even highly trained soliders in the miltary can't handle dripping water, very much doubt I could