Virginia Governor Timoth M. Kaine has pardoned Grace Sherwood, who was convicted of witchcraft in 1706. "With 300 years of hindsight, we all certainly can agree that trial by water is an injustice," Kaine wrote.On the other hand, without the retrospective view it's not so certain we can all agree that it is torture:
CIA DIRECTOR Porter J. Goss insists that his agency is innocent of torturing the prisoners it is holding in secret detention centers around the world. "This agency does not torture," he said in an interview. "We use lawful capabilities to collect vital information, and we do it in a variety of unique and innovative ways, all of which are legal and none of which are torture." One of these techniques is "waterboarding," in which a victim is strapped to a board and lowered into a vat of water until he or she believes that drowning is imminent. The subject is then removed from the water and revived. If necessary the process is repeated. The torture is designed to be psychological more than physical, as the victim is led to believe that he or she is being executed. This reinforces the torturer's control and makes the victim experience mortal fear. Here's What's Left also noted the connection.
