re: #9 KGxvi

And keep in mind that Hitchens (and service members who go through thus as training) went in knowing that the person waterboarding him wasn’t going to kill him. A prisoner has no such knowledge or comfort.

re: #11 Targetpractice

Not only did he go in knowing that, but he also went in knowing he could signal for them to stop at any time. The prisoners at Gitmo and elsewhere don’t get that luxury, they’re stuck enduring that torture until either their torturers are satisfied they’ve been told everything or decides that they’ve pushed that prisoner as far as they dare for the session.

Then we have the question of the proficiency of interrogators. History is riddled with horror stories of incompetent torturers.
Not that torture is any effective means of interrogation.