A Rose is a Rose is a Rose

Torture by any other name is still torture.

Instead of asking Judge Mukasey (Bush's nominee to replace Alberto Gonzalez as Attorney General) whether water boarding is or is not torture (and thereby in violation of International law and a war crime), the Senate Judiciary Committee should just ask him to DEFINE water boarding.

If he says he does not KNOW, then they should invite John McCain and other survivors of water boarding to describe for him what it felt like.

In addition, he should watch this video:



After all of the above, the Senate should demand that he describe -- without giving a legal opinion -- what he now understands about water boarding.

If he hedges and does not answer that question, the Senate should NOT confirm Mukasey.

And, after all is said and done, the Congress should immediately take up the issue and pass a law that requires that any interrogation techniques employed by any US official or agency must comply with the ban on torture as it is outlined in the US Army's Field Manual.

Contact your Representatives in Congress and tell them how you feel. Otherwise, the pro-torture minority will use their phone-bank sheeple to make sure that their views are heard.