A precedence becomes accepted

[Skybird]

Ein Beispiel macht Schule.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8092417.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jun/10/ukcrime

This example shows why precedences are a dangerous thing.

Originally, waterboarding has been developed by a civilian US company assisting US interrogators. In it's current form it has been unknown before the Bush era.

[SteamWake]

Yes of course there was no torture before the Bush era :doh:

[Platapus]

One should research the "water treatment" as used in the American-Philipine war in the early part of the 20th century.

I don't think it would be possible to discover who "invented" water boarding.

It has been around ever since there has been water and humans understanding that they can torture other humans by the simple application of water.

[Skybird]

It was revealed short time ago (and covered in the media) that US intel started to use this method in it's specific technical modern form after suggestion and under surveillance by contractors of a private security company.

It was also reprted short time ago that one of the main suspects was exposed to the procedure for more than 200 times. Which makes monumental mockery of certain statements by Dick Cheney regarding how often torturing by waterboarding has been used under the Bush administration ("just three or four times", he said on one opportunity).

"Private security company" means it is not under public counter control, and is not officially legitimised by laws or public votes to perform actions touching governmental policies and security operations of the state that are meant to be carried out by governmental offices/services exclusively.
Interesting. Or better: worrying.

[SteamWake]

It was also reprted short time ago that one of the main suspects was exposed to the procedure for more than 200 times.

Source ?