Übergeek 바둑이:   water boarding has worked every time.   It's not nuns that are captured on the battle field.  It's enemy combatants.  And in all the thousands that have been captured, only three have been water boarded.  And in those cases,  information that was vital to the safety of others was obtained. 

We can create any scenario we want to discredit water boarding.  But the reality is this:  it hasn't been used since 2003 and when used, it was used only on those well-known for their terrorists activities.   In all seriousness, I don't want water boarding to be used as a routine tactic against the enemy.  But I don't want it completely removed from the tool box either.

Notice that beheadings is not being discussed amongst the terrorists with some on one side saying it's a useful tool and others saying it's too cruel.  No, they video tape it and post it on the web. 

I also wouldn't want law enforcement to use this technique without serious parameters.  There are too many loose cannons out there.  But if I had a guy in my custody and I knew that he had info on where one of my grand kids were, the police better hurry.   I may go to jail for it, but I won't stand by and do nothing.   What if I'm wrong about this guy?   I don't act recklessly.   But I will err on the side of my family's welfare.  Every time.