(V):  Even McCain thinks it's torture.  But he's wrong.   It's appropriate to use such a technique if the stakes are high enough.  As a matter of routine, or just to bring unpleasantness to a person, then yes you are right.  But in the right context, Keller is all wet (no pun intended.)  It's not torture.   It can be used as torture but it's also a useful interrogation tool.  And if your family's life were at stake, you'd use it too.  As for me, I'd go right to the tougher stuff like snipping off fingers or well placed electrodes if my family's safety is at stake.  If a terrorist means to do me harm or my loved ones harm, or if he/she has information that could save lives, I'll use whatever I can and the terrorist be damned.  But that's me.  The US military has very strict guidelines which is why waterboarding has only been used 3 times.  Three.  THREE.  And only in these rare cases was it employed as a last resort.  It's nonsense to be against something that ultimately saved many lives.  The people it was used against were cold blooded murderers.  I have no sympathy for them.