That's the question Chicago radio personality Erich "Mancow" Muller set out to answer this morning.
Mancow became one of several journalists and media personalities to get waterboarded live on air.
Known for his conservative view point, Mancow started the morning a supporter of the interrogation tactic.
Mancow says he hoped his on-air test would help prove that waterboarding did not, in fact, constitute torture.
Sometime around 8:40 a.m. that viewpoint changed.
Mancow was placed on a 7-foot long table, his legs were elevated, and his feet were tied up. Marine Sergeant Clay South performed the interrogation tactic with a Chicago Fire Department paramedic standing close by.
For those of you that don't know, Waterboarding is described as an "interrogation tactic" that involves covering a suspect's face in a soaked towel and shackling their arms and legs. The person conducting the "interrogation" then places the suspect's on a table with their legs elevated. The process is said to simulate the feeling of drowning.
Mancows lasted only a few seconds before throwing the toy cow he was holding as an emergency tap-out indicator.
Once he regained his composure -- the usually vocal commentator said, he really hated
to admit it, but waterboarding was indeed, in his opinion torture.
Take a look at the video of Mancow being waterboarded and tell me what you think? Is it torture? Did Mancow bite off more than he could chew? Should the US continue to use these types of interrogation tactics?
Afua S. Owusu
(uh-fee-yah) (oh-woo-sue)
News Producer
