Is Waterboarding Torture or is Mancow Just a Wuss?

More adventures in Celebrity Waterboarding: Chicago radio shock jock Mancow Muller volunteered to take on the critics and allowed Marine Sgt. Klay South to waterboard him on the air last Friday May 22.

Mancow lasted all of eight seconds, afterwards loudly and repeatedly proclaiming that waterboarding is "absolutely torture."

America probably shouldn't take a guy called Mancow as the final word on the subject, but Katie Couric, Brian Williams, Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly don't seem to be volunteering to give it a try.

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann got very excited and once again baited Fox News' Sean Hannity, who hasn't followed up on an alleged offer to be waterboarded for charity. Olbermann has instead donated $10K to Veterans of Valor, a charity run by the Marine who poured the water on Mancow.

Here's hoping the debate continues. I'm sure that Eminem or that guy who plays Captain Kirk will have something to add to our national discussion.

Read more at Mancow's website. Keith has another long rant about waterboarding at MSNBC. No comment yet from Sean Hannity, but check back here for updates. Original link via TMZ.

Comments

[#1 Posted by: michael whited]

Defining torture is subjective,for example some people may think listening to Keith Olbermann is torture..and by some people I mean me. Water boarding is usually employed when you are pressed for time..as opposed to just capping somebody in the knee and dangling the morphine syringe over them as they lay..bleeding. That, in hindsight was a little barbaric..but it was employed at one time..so maybe the threat of drowning is better that a 9 slug in the knee? subjective.

[#2 Posted by: SFC Jere Smith Retired]

I was waterboarded three times in various training situations. Its not a big deal.

[#3 Posted by: kim matheson]

i was a soldier , im a product of harmony church , i am infantry,,,,i am ashamed my country resorted to it and i think the non serving chickenhawk bastages like bill o'rielly should stfu , he hasnt a clue of which he speaks , i have no respect for him what so ever

[#4 Posted by: Douglas Rist]

Why is this question either/or ?

[#5 Posted by: david Schaab]

He was uncomfortable and felt the sensation of drowning - but to call that torture - ABSOLUTELY NOT - he is in no way disfigured, incapacitated, or scarred for life. To answer the question - WUSS

[#6 Posted by: Alan Tharnish]

I was a Naval Aircrewman and did not get waterboarded. BUT! I volunteered to take someone elses place so he wouldn't have to go thru it. I was named an Honor grad and I don't care if it is or if it isn't. Did it save American Lives? YES. Enough said.

[#7 Posted by: Alan Tharnish]

I was a Naval Aircrewman and did not get waterboarded. BUT! I volunteered to take someone elses place so he wouldn't have to go thru it. I was named an Honor grad and I don't care if it is or if it isn't. Did it save American Lives? YES. Enough said.

[#8 Posted by: CAPT Doug Moret]

I too was water boarded during training and I think I lasted about 8 seconds too before I was ready to tell them anything. When that water starts entering your lungs your mind just snaps and you panic completely. On the other hand, within a few minutes after being removed from the board, I was totally back to normal again. In a nutshell, it was an extremely unpleasant experience but it was not torture. There IS a difference.

[#9 Posted by: Alan Tharnish]

I was a Naval Aircrewman and did not get waterboarded. BUT! I volunteered to take someone elses place so he wouldn't have to go thru it. I was named an Honor grad and I don't care if it is or if it isn't. Did it save American Lives? YES. Enough said.

[#10 Posted by: curt murra]

Just wondering if it was torture punishable by prison when the Japanese did it to Allied troops in WW2 why is it not torture now?

[#11 Posted by: Joe Bajinkabitch]

It was torture then because it was 1945 and the Japanese were little, yellow, slant-eyed subhumans...according to the prejudice and bigotry of the day. We lunged at any excuse to punish them. Slavery was legal once, your logic begs asking the question why it isn't anymore. Waterboarding isn't any fun but if you want torture go to Youtube and search Taliban beheadings.

[#12 Posted by: Joe Bajinkabitch]

It was torture then because it was 1945 and the Japanese were little, yellow, slant-eyed subhumans...according to the prejudice and bigotry of the day. We lunged at any excuse to punish them. Slavery was legal once, your logic begs asking the question why it isn't anymore. Waterboarding isn't any fun but if you want torture go to Youtube and search Taliban beheadings.

[#13 Posted by: Kelly]

Waterboarding is not torture. Wake up America. What happens to our POW's is torture!

[#14 Posted by: Keith]

I was in the Coast Guard for a number of years. I spent a lot of time in the water. I was required to be in the water. Now I know you will say I made this choice...well those that comit crimes do that of their own free will. I know what it feels like to have LARGE amounts of water up the nose and in the mouth, pucking up my guts because of the water, not being able to breath because I was under water for an extended period of time.

Next thing you know, these same people that are opposed to waterboarding will require the Coast Guard...and Navy...to stop putting their people in the water, because this is torture...we should never put any person in or near water for fear that they will get water up their nose or in their mouth.

Furthermore, I have a son in the military. If he were in danger and our government had a person in custody that could get him out of a dangerious situation, or prevent him from being harmed/killed, I would expect our government to do what it takes so he could come home.

I DO NOT feel that waterboarding should be classed as torture. To me torture is withholding food/water, causing injuries, withholding medical attention...actions that can lead to death. Waterboarding DOES NOT lead to death.

Some of the people that are opposed to waterboarding say that we should stop and lead by example on a more humane way of getting information. Are you kidding? Even if we were to try to lead by example, the people that want to do harm to our people would just laugh and continue to cut our peoples' heads off (oh, did we forget that they did that). They would continue to shoot, snipe, bomb, use women and children to do their dirty work and would laugh, because we would NEVER be able to get needed information to keep our country and people safe.

I could go on and on and on, but will stop with...WATERBOARDING IS NOT TORTURE!!!!

[#15 Posted by: Keith]

I was in the Coast Guard for a number of years. I spent a lot of time in the water. I was required to be in the water. Now I know you will say I made this choice...well those that comit crimes do that of their own free will. I know what it feels like to have LARGE amounts of water up the nose and in the mouth, pucking up my guts because of the water, not being able to breath because I was under water for an extended period of time.

Next thing you know, these same people that are opposed to waterboarding will require the Coast Guard...and Navy...to stop putting their people in the water, because this is torture...we should never put any person in or near water for fear that they will get water up their nose or in their mouth.

Furthermore, I have a son in the military. If he were in danger and our government had a person in custody that could get him out of a dangerious situation, or prevent him from being harmed/killed, I would expect our government to do what it takes so he could come home.

I DO NOT feel that waterboarding should be classed as torture. To me torture is withholding food/water, causing injuries, withholding medical attention...actions that can lead to death. Waterboarding DOES NOT lead to death.

Some of the people that are opposed to waterboarding say that we should stop and lead by example on a more humane way of getting information. Are you kidding? Even if we were to try to lead by example, the people that want to do harm to our people would just laugh and continue to cut our peoples' heads off (oh, did we forget that they did that). They would continue to shoot, snipe, bomb, use women and children to do their dirty work and would laugh, because we would NEVER be able to get needed information to keep our country and people safe.

I could go on and on and on, but will stop with...WATERBOARDING IS NOT TORTURE!!!!

[#16 Posted by: chiefjgmac]

I think wuss. Why?
1)Mancow not properly set on an incline with head below feet.
2)Nose held (at Mancow's request) not allowing water to enter waterway.
3)Mouth not covered, allows water to be blown out and not allowing max water to enter air way.
4)Much of water was poured on Mancow's chin and throat. At that, he should have lasted 6 minutes.
5)No noticable signs of distress, especially with Mancow not being secured to the table.
I just have a hard time figuring if it was real or was it MEMOREX?

[#17 Posted by: Brad]

Drama, Drama, Drama!

[#18 Posted by: Dennis Bennett]

I believe you do what is necessary to prevent harm to our country, To seek information whatever way is possible. From experience as a former Ranger, Most countrys do not observe the geneva convention, Other countries will get possible information whatever means they can, Not just something like waterboarding. So stop all the bullship, quit whining. Let us do our job to prevent harm to our country, our people.our freedom.

[#19 Posted by: samurai]

I volunteer to mma keith overbite. I would subject myself to waterboarding first to earn the shot at Oberman. Oberman is whats wrong with this country.
Mancow is obviously not a mentally tough guy. He also said himself he's damaged goods since he already drowned as a kid. I say waterboarding should be STANDARD for all low life scumbag terror suspects.

[#20 Posted by: Frank]

That members of the military would doubt it is torture just astounds me. We court martialed people in Vietnam for doing it. Period.

Its only a debate because the GOP chickenhawks and their ignorant hangers on want it to be a debate.

Remember SERE School? Remember when they said THESE WERE ILLEGAL METHODS THE ENEMY WILL USE AND YOU WILL BREAK AND SAY ANYTHING?

Pretty sad when we have sheep in the military. Used to be there were honorable men in the profession. Lots of them. IF it was wrong, it was wrong. Politics didn't make it right.

[#21 Posted by: ethan]

All those apologists for torture should be subjected to waterboarding most rikki tick! I really, really want to see Rush and Sean and Bill "papa bear" undergo the procedure and be asked about their love for Hillary.

[#22 Posted by: ethan]

I just wanna see Rush, sean and Bill "papa bear" undergo this procedure while being asked to declare their love for Hillary!

[#23 Posted by: American]

I don't care. If it can save American lives, go for it.

[#24 Posted by: ragman]

I vote with chiefjgmac who says "Wuss". I also watched the tape of Mancow, and saw what the Chief saw. Mostly BS. The "Marine" poured the water on his closed mouth and on his neck, he was not restrained. Looked like Memorex to me, sir.

[#25 Posted by: Doug]

It's wrong to waterboard, but it's okay to let thousands of people die who might be saved by timely intel. What kind of "morality is that?