WaPo
CIA denied Sen. Bill Nelson his right to be waterboarded
During the uproar a few years ago over the CIA’s use of waterboarding, Florida Sen. Bill Nelson (D) told the agency he “wanted to find out for himself how it felt,” according to a new book by former CIA official Jose Rodriguez…
Rodriguez insists that “while the procedure is harsh and unpleasant,” it can’t be called torture.
Nonetheless, “the agency decided that it would not be wise to accommodate the senator’s thirst for knowledge,” Rodriguez writes. And while Nelson, known for liking to do his homework, “appeared to be in great shape,” he was in his mid-60s at the time.
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I happen to have a weight bench and a bucket of water right here, Senator.
Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on May 10, 2012 at 12:23 AM
I can respect that.
vegconservative on May 10, 2012 at 12:25 AM
Christopher Hitchens got waterboarded. Bill Nelson could too if he really wanted to.
Lord on May 10, 2012 at 12:26 AM
Can we do this to Barbara Boxer?
Mark1971 on May 10, 2012 at 12:30 AM
I’m sure Nelson underwent much harsher stuff in his astronaut training, but being a lib who could trust him to be honest about the waterboarding experience?
ThePrimordialOrderedPair on May 10, 2012 at 12:42 AM
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid need to do their homework too.
Schadenfreude on May 10, 2012 at 12:42 AM
Nelson probably only did it to use as campaign fodder (either for or against as needed).
I wonder what they would confess to?
INC on May 10, 2012 at 12:51 AM
s/b Nelson probably only asked to do it…
INC on May 10, 2012 at 12:51 AM
CIA not trusting a democrat? Hmmmmmm.
SouthernGent on May 10, 2012 at 1:00 AM
A right to a job, a right to marriage, and a right to waterboard Bill Nelson. That’s a nice platform.
Warner Todd Huston on May 10, 2012 at 1:01 AM
The very fact that people are volunteering to undergo waterboarding undermines the claim that it is torture. No one would volunteer for bamboo under the nails, the “rope trick” (used relentlessly at the Hanoi Hilton), or the myriad other “persuasive” techniques used by America’s enemies.
DrMagnolias on May 10, 2012 at 7:42 AM
Oh darn!
MeatHeadinCA on May 10, 2012 at 7:53 AM
Sorry, but there’s no question waterboarding is torture. And no amount of people volunteering for the procedure is going to make it otherwise.
Shump on May 10, 2012 at 8:14 AM
Torture is a clearly defined word with a strong set of criteria attached to it. Waterboarding in no way fits the definition of torture. It may make people feel bad, but that does not make it torture.
stvnscott on May 10, 2012 at 8:48 AM
Nancy: “I still don’t know what’s in the bill.”
Harry: “I have no idea what a budget is.”
Odysseus on May 10, 2012 at 8:59 AM
Ever been waterboarded? I have. It’s not torture.
Washington Nearsider on May 10, 2012 at 10:17 AM