corrente

Donald Rumsfeld approved the use at Guantanamo of a technique known as "waterboarding." This is not a surfing-related program activity, it's a technique popularized in American history in Salem, Mass., circa 1692.

He wrote a memo about it. CNN (and apparently ONLY covered) the story yesterday.

Except when you try to find it, even with a link from a Google search which confirms the stories existed, they're mysteriously gone. The link above is to a "cache" site, proving that trying to hide ANYTHING once it's been posted to the Net just makes you look like a cat trying to bury a turd on a tile floor. Rummy has made Nixon's Mistake. It ain't the crime that'll get ya, it's the coverup.

Atrios nails him on both the story and the coverup.

The lead to the story, by CNN's Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre, who should stay out of small planes for awhile:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Pentagon has declassified and will release as soon as Tuesday memos signed by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that critics argue authorized torture of detainees at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

But Pentagon officials strongly disputed the contention that the aggressive techniques, including the use of dogs to induce fear, constituted torture.

Among the memos, Pentagon officials said, is a directive signed by Rumsfeld in October 2002 authorizing a technique called "water boarding," in which a prisoner is strapped down, immersed in water, and made to feel as if he is going to drown.

But officials insisted the technique was never used and that the authorization for it was rescinded in January 2003 following an internal review of interrogation techniques and objections from military lawyers who said the practice would violate the Geneva Conventions.

UPDATE: Looks like the Yahoo cache link has been killed too, although I checked this just before posting it. Go to Atrios, look in the comments thread on this story, they've got the whole thing copied. If Haloscan suddenly doesn't work either, start getting nervous.

UPPERDATE: Bobo notes in Comments that CNN's stories are back up at the links cited before...but Atrios says this is a sanitized version:

The senior defense official who provided the original information to CNN now says Rumsfeld only approved "mild, noninjurious physical contact" with a high-level al Qaeda detainee at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and specifically did not approve a request to use water boarding.

The tactic involves strapping a prisoner down and immersing him in water and making the subject feel as though he is drowning.

The memos to and from Rumsfeld are expected to be released later Tuesday, and will show that while the water boarding technique was on a list of requested aggressive tactics, Rumsfeld did not approve it, officials say.

UPPEST DATE:
The invaluable MJS has had Deep Thoughts on this matter. With apologies noted to all Beach Boys fans everywhere--

Arab prisoner, you're the one
Who will make this torture fun
Will you ride this, ride this water board
Water board, my little water board
There's more....