Is Waterboarding Torture?

I think the answer to that question is yes. While the policy makers may quibble over definitions, former soldiers seem to be in agreement. Malcolm Nance at the Small Wars Journal makes no bones about it, and Revolutionary War Hero and 2008 Presidential Candidate John McCain, a former POW himself, is in agreement.

From what I can understand, waterboarding is not "simulating drowning", but is in fact actually drowning the victim, but allowing them to draw in enough oxygen to keep them conscious. It's close enough to killing someone that the Army and the CIA have a doctor and a psychologist on-hand, as well as specially trained "strap-in, strap-out" teams in case removal from the waterboard to administer medical assistance is necessary.

We, the citizens of the United States of America, are faced with a serious moral dilemma. The "War on Terror" has thrown us into a conflict with an enemy that will resort to anything to destroy us. We know they have no compuction about torturing, maiming, and murdering; we know they have no regard for the distinction between military personnel and civilians. Their hatred for us drives them single-mindedly to anything they can use to their advantage. Faced with such a foe, how long can we hold the moral high ground? And at what cost?