266 Times!

C.I.A. interrogators used waterboarding, the near-drowning technique, 266 times on two key prisoners from Al Qaeda.The C.I.A. officers used waterboarding at least 83 times in August 2002 against Abu Zubaydah and 183 times in March 2003 against Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described planner of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

As someone who passed high school math, I figure that Abu Zubaydah was waterboarded about 3 times a day for 31 consecutive days and Mohammed was given the same treatment about 17 times a day in August 2002.

If former Vice President Cheney and the other neocon apologists believe so strongly that waterboarding or "aggressive interrogation techniques" were so effective, why so may treatments?

Given what I have learned from reading about this grisly practice, I would probably admit to practically anything after my first time being strapped down and waterboarded! If three treatments a day for seven days didn't do the magic, why would another 24 days provide anymore valuable intelligence? I really don't understand.

This practice was implemented in an overheated atmosphere of hysteria and desperation shortly after 9-11. Many of us wanted vengeance and retribution for the 9-11 attacks. I can easily see how reasonable people confronted with the risk of future terrorism would endorse practically any or all interrogation techniques that would thwart future attacks. This country has a history of ignoring civil rights and other constitutional protections when confronted with crises. Don't bother me with the details just get the intelligence we need!

True leaders with moral compasses even in the overheated atmosphere following 9-11 should know when not to cross the boundaries of decency or step outside the rule of law. This is torture if it is conducted on an individual once. It is criminal and sadistic to do it 82 or 182 times more.