In another release from their all-out campaign to damage the Bush administration, the Associated Press has unilaterally decided that water boarding is “torture.” White House denies Cheney OK’d torture.

WASHINGTON - The White House said Friday that Vice President Dick Cheney was not talking about a torture technique known as “water boarding” when he said dunking terrorism suspects in water during questioning was a “no-brainer.”

Human rights groups complained that Cheney’s comments amounted to an endorsement of water boarding, in which the victim believes he is about to drown.

UPDATE at 10/27/06 9:39:21 am:

Here’s a video of a former Special Forces member going through water boarding, at Current TV. (Hat tip: Ringo.)

UPDATE at 10/27/06 10:03:48 am:

Astoundingly, the Reuters report is actually less biased this time around: Cheney did not back simulated drowning: White House.

Cheney was asked on Tuesday by a conservative radio host from Fargo, North Dakota: “Would you agree a dunk in water is a no-brainer if it can save lives?”

“Well, it’s a no-brainer for me,” Cheney replied.

His comment prompted complaints from human rights advocates that he was endorsing a technique called “waterboarding” that simulates drowning and is considered torture by some critics.

UPDATE at 10/27/06 12:24:58 pm:

The White House press corps is really lathered up over this one: Video: Press corps in “frenzy” over waterboarding.